Impressions of a recent traveller to Washington Wednesday, 19 May 2010 10:35

Even though airports are crowded with travellers, extensive screening is critical, especially for travellers heading to the United States. Shoes must be removed for screening, liquids are confiscated – regardless of whether it is drinking water, hand lotion, or cosmetics. These procedures are not intended to deter Arab passengers from travelling to the US, rather, done to everyone including American citizens at home when travelling by air. In light of horrific events over the past few years,  these concerns are legitimate and security is a priority, for which all people, of all nationalities, all over the world pay the price after the tragedy of September 11, particularly the US that has yet to recover from the vicious attack.

The events of September 11 are still alive and visible, re-awakening at every opportunity and place.  Such is witnessed at the Newseum in Washington, which contains a gallery dedicated to the attack, which was not only an insult to the American sense of the sovereignty but to the mass national consciousness and humanity at large, for Americans’ fellow citizens who died that day. Not only were civilians the victims of the aggressive attack, so were dutiful citizens such as firefighters, police, and volunteers sacrificing their lives to rescue those stranded by fire, trapped underground, and trying to save loved ones or relatives missing for weeks and months, putting up photos and roaming streets and squares in searches.

In this gallery, walls are coloured with broad front-pages of major newspapers all over the world, in all languages, reporting the morning of the sudden aggression on the United States on September 11. Photographs of the aircraft are in scenes more vivid than could be manipulated by high-tech Hollywood cinema effects. The aftermath of the attack resulted in revenge, more bombing attacks, and changed the lives of millions of people all over the world.

Moments of silence and sadness wrap up this section of the museum, with burnt remains of the World Trade Centre antennae suspended from the high ceiling, witness of the terrible tragedy, while visitors to the gallery sit in front of a hanging display strip depicting scenes of the horrific attack.

Some of the visitors’ reactions were of feelings of grief, bitterness, and frustration as memo¬ries of the repercussions of the attack on their home, as many visitors to this museum are Americans from other states to their nation’s capital, filled with historic monuments and museums.

Thus began a new era, where travel has become a source of concern and tension for air travelers, who must also be searched to make sure they are free from security threats. This represents a psychological burden and physical pressure on the average traveler, who has to throw away valuables, or have them confiscated for security reasons.

Filling the plane heading directly from Doha to Washington were travelers of different nationalities, rarest of which were Qataris. Each passenger had different goals for their visit to this truly beautiful capital, especially at the beginning of spring, with cherry blossoms in full bloom, and the sun slightly interrupting serene rain showers, amidst refreshing cool breezes.

Some of the travelers were heading to their hometowns, some for work, medical purposes, or visit their children who are students, as in my case. Washington remains a national shrine for Americans arriving at the capital via aircraft, cars, buses, or trains, especially during spring break, which many seized to discover the capital with their children. Tourists flock to the White House, Pentagon, and multiple Smithsonian museums open free of charge.

No one can get lost in Washington as it is divided by parallel streets in alphabetical order vertically, and numerical order horizontally. It is easily learnt by tourists who line the streets visiting monuments, shops, and restaurants. Each café is different in its ability to draw in patrons, perhaps most observably in Georgetown Cupcake, with lines of leisurely customers extending outside of the store’s doors and across the street’s corner.

Scenes wonderful Washington include a homeless man selling “Street Sense” to passer bys, 16-page bi-weekly journal discussing homeless’ people’s issues and seeking to create economic opportunities for the impoverished and unemployed. They are supported by a large group of generous donors who print the material free of charge to be sold for one dollar.

One of the most moving scenes someone from the developing world would observe in awe and appreciation is one reflecting the strength of will of the community and its ability to create determination; a blind woman walking alone in the streets of the capital with no assistance except for a sensitive electronic stick allowing her to enter underground train stations via elevators and sit in specifically allocated seats. There are also many people on wheelchairs and public train stations are favorable to them in providing elevators and accessible options, reflecting a society prepared to support its members.

The Potomac River in Washington combines beauty and wonder. The magnificence of the city planning allows for accessing the river from different streets, branching off of the lovely Georgetown area at large, all of which are parallel with apartment buildings, embassies, hotels, and restaurants, and wooden bridges extending to the beautiful river.

The government buildings in Washington are huge, dignified, and extend along the street like castles, suggesting power, greatness, and the sanctity of attitudes toward work, which make smiling and cooperative attitudes observable in American lifestyle.

Perhaps the greatest success of America is the ability to break barriers between human beings. At least that is what I observed  in Washington first-hand, as I was treated very kindly as a foreigner, even more so once people knew I am a GCC citizen. Rather than treating foreigners with inferiority, I found that people had a distinct impression of GCC citizens. Perhaps this positive stereotype of the GCC developed in the US after the American invasion of Iraq and liberation of Kuwait, revealing the mystery behind the region and its citizens.

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