First weekend

This weekend I checked out The National Book Festival - which had been on my agenda for a few weeks now. I recently purchased Laura Bush's memoir, Spoken from the Heart, and was very excited to read online that she would be at the festival. While she did not offer signatures like I was hoping for, she did give an incredible speech (which was more memorable than a signature)! Mrs. Bush explained her role in organizing the first festival ten years ago and then gave a reading from her book. The section of her book which she read from described her every emotion, action, and thought experienced on September 11, 2001. The manner in which Mrs. Bush read her story brought out emotion in every person in the crowd and still gives me

goosebumps when I reflect on her reading and the day in general.

In addition to The National Book Festival, I stopped by the Eastern Market and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! The booths filled with arts and crafts and the smells of local businesses cooking up some of your favorite "down-home" meals offered for a fun afternoon. It also made me feel like I was back in small town, Ohio at a county fair or community event :) All in all, it was a fantastic first weekend in D.C.!

This week at my internship things have been slowing down for the most part since the House is taking recess at the end of the week (supposedly) and heading back to their districts to campaign. Today, I sat in my second House committee hearing. Both hearings I have attended so far have been for the House Committee on Financial Services. The first hearing was last week and involved members asking Secretary Geithner their various financial reform questions. Today was a subcommittee hearing on the trends of terrorism financing.

Oh, and I gave my first tour of the Capitol this week to a group of Vietnam veterans, which was a fun time!

L. Wilson

My first week in DC!

I have traveled to Washington, D.C. once before. On that trip, I was the ultimate tourist doing such things as fumbling on the Metro and stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to stare at the grand buildings. On this trip to D.C., knowing that I will be living here for ten weeks, I have really been trying to fit in and be a local. My first week at my internship in Congressman Steve Driehaus’ office has gone well, and I have begun to unlock the maze of the city streets on my way to work each morning. Later, I did something as common as taking the Metro to Target without getting lost. This morning I visited Eastern Market and got to take my fresh produce back to my temporary home. It is almost like I live here – oh wait, I do!

T.Brenner

Muskies Go To Washington, Swimming In a Sea of Buckeyes

As we were the first institute of higher education John Glenn attended, we thought we should claim the first blog post of the fall quarter [laughter].
This week two muskies (students of Muskingum University) embarked on a new voyage in our nation's capital. Originating from a small campus, in a town where Circle K is the "happening" place on a Friday evening, our first experiences as proud Glenn fellows in D.C. were definitely memorable ones.

I (Brock) began my first day of work this morning at the Library of Congress in the manuscript department. Nearly ready to throw up or pass out or a combination of the two I entered the large marble building known as the James Madison Building. In all my nerves, I forgot to take off my belt and, of course, set off the metal detector. With my first set back behind me, I walked confidently up to a map of the building and tried to find the location of the room I needed to be. After five minutes of confusion I asked a security guard who pointed directly to my right and there was the room. So, with my first two setbacks behind me I walked confidently into the manuscript reading room and met the staff. Everyone was extremely friendly, especially, the very kind security guard in our division who was quick to complement my suit. Anyways, the day went fairly smoothly from there on out, I was presented with some very interesting work throughout the day, and even managed to avoid any shrapnel from the Chinese food, which I foolishly purchased at lunch.

I (Lindsey) started my day with a joyful hello to all "passerbys" (this we call the Muskie Hello on campus), but many were more focused on their Blackberrys and walking as fast as possible to their morning destinations. <- just a small example of the contrast between New Concord, Ohio and Washington D.C.
Today I began my internship in Congressman John Boehner's office. I am very excited for this opportunity and the experience I will receive working for a leader in Congress. I was given several responsibilities and tasks as an intern, of which I will not bore you with - just know that I am quickly becoming an excellent tour guide!
One important piece of advice for future Glenn fellows, refrain from wearing new shoes your first day - I promise it's not worth it!

View a web cast of the Glenn School event with Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, on the WAIP facebook page.

Here are links to the articles mentioned by Mr. Mann:

1.”Just How Broken is the Senate?” G. Packer: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/09/100809fa_fact_packer?printable=true

2. “Washington, We Have a Problem”: http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/09/broken-washington-201009

3. Obama speech to UM graduates, May 2010: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/01/obama-michigan-graduation_n_559688.html

African American Civil War Memorial and Museum

"Without the military help of the black freedmen, the war against the south could not have been won." President Abraham Lincoln, 1865.

The Emancipation Proclamation promised African-Americans freedom but in order to obtain their freedom they would need to help the Union win the war over the Confederacy. On May 22, 1863, the Bureau of US Colored Troops (USCT) was created to recruit, train, and deploy African American soldiers.

The African American Civil War memorial is a moving testament of the courage of African American Troops during the Civil War. The statue, Spirit of Freedom shows black soldiers in uniform and one single sailor. Around the sculpture is the Wall of Honor. This wall gives a listing of 209,145 names from the USCT who served our country during the Civil War.

The permanent exhibition of the museum is “Slavery to Freedom: Civil War to Civil Rights.” This exhibit shows the great struggle for freedom in the United States during that era. The museum has on display a bill of sale for an enslaved girl who sold for $600, it is an example of how slavery was such an economic force that could not have ended without the war.

By visiting the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, one is able to learn a vitial segment of American history.

The African American Civil War Memorial and Museum is located on 1200 U Street, accessible by the green line.

-OI

The Apollo Exhibit

About a week ago I visited the American History Museum. It definitely took me by surprise, and is probably now my favorite museum in D.C. I spent at least an hour on each floor and loved every exhibit. However, my favorite part of this museum would have to be the exhibit on the Apollo Theatre. In this exhibit there was a video chronicling how it had shaped entertainment in general and most specifically African American entertainment. This video showed some of the most famous comedians performing at the Apollo and even how many of these people got their start during the famous "Amateur Night." Amateur night performers were given a chance to showcase what they've got in the historical theatre. But , this was no easy task since the audience was encouraged to quickly and loudly voice their opinions of each performance . Great performances were met with loud applause and those deemed not so great, well, met with an equally vocal unhappy response! The exhibit also featured many outfits that famous performers had worn at the Apollo. My favorite part of the exhibit was the display that had Sammy Davis' tap shoes from when he was younger and had first performed at the Apollo. The exhibit also went into detail as to how some of our favorite performers today got their big start at the Apollo's Amateur night. Some of these stars include, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and James Brown. What a great way to showcase a very important part of American entertainment history.

-M.T.

Coffee at the White House

After procuring White House tickets from Senator Brown, clearing my absence from work with my boss at KHA, and handing over all of my personal identity information to Sen. Brown's staffer, I ventured to the White House Visitor Center last Friday afternoon.

And, after completing a maze of security inspection, Haley and I were finally able to set foot in the White House. Only to our surprise, we were welcomed with a warm greeting from First Lady Michelle Obama and the family dog, Bo.

Mrs. Obama offered us coffee, which we took graciously, and cookies which we had to decline due to my promise to return back to the office promptly for an important business meeting (and Haley's rather strict all juice diet).

We were, however, able to walk through the East Room, Green Room (my favorite), Blue Room, Red Room, and the State Dining Room. After a brief stay and some small talk with Michelle and the working secret servicemen, we exited through the hall where Princess Di and John Travolta were once photographed sharing a dance.

I'd highly recommend requesting tickets MONTHS in advance, unless of course you have a personal connection with the Pres.
Most tours are self led, so I doubt you'll be as lucky as Haley & I were to run into a few of its actual residents. Of course, it's worth a shot!

Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed. So, you'll have to take my word for it.

LT & HC

Here's some entertaining political commentary on the ground zero mosque:
There are always different ways to look at a situation.

Politicians Discuss the Same Current Events We Do in Class

During one of our class sessions we discussed the new Islamic center project in lower Manhattan while the building was being reviewed for landmark status. The plans for the center have already been reviewed and approved, but now the focus of the center is apparent "public opinion" that disapproves having a mosque in this particular location.

This morning during CNN’s State of the Union, New York congressmen Jerrold Nadler (D) and Peter King (R) also discussed the Islamic Center.



King argued that, while he respects Muslims’ “right” to build a new center, “they should listen to public opinion” and “should voluntarily move the mosque away from Ground Zero.” This argument worries me because I get the impression of an attitude that puts guilt on all Muslims for the terrorist acts of 9/11. I am personally not against the center because the Rule of Law and our freedoms from the Bill of Rights should be equally distributed to all Americans, and clearly the people who are going to build and use this center are using their First Amendment rights. Yes, 9/11 was a tragedy for America, but as Nadler said, you can not "regard Islam as the culprit, as opposed to Al Qaida as the culprit. We were not attacked by all Muslims."

Letting this center be built willingly is such an American thing we as a nation can do because it celebrates the freedoms our founding fathers ensured we as a nation could have.


-H.H.



By the way, here is a map for the center's location in regards to Gound Zero.