Time out!
Before you continue to argue about politics, please take a moment and read this piece.
I would like to present a much-overlooked point of view about Washington, D.C., a deservedly maligned city for a number of reasons — except this one: Washington is the prettiest city in the United States of America.
I recently had the good fortune to spend two days there. As usual, I was in a hurry — a hurry to get where I was going, a hurry to meet my appointments and a hurry to get home to New York, where I had more meetings to run to.
But while I was in town this time, I was struck by the unassuming beauty of the city itself: the trees on every block, the biking paths accommodating people who were too smart to drive around in gas-guzzlers, the convenient layout for the zillions of tourists (why do they all seem to wear red T-shirts, by the way?) who flock every day to Washington.
It doesn't matter whether you're a conservative or a liberal by nature. It doesn't make a difference if you're working against or for President Obama, either. This is the one occasion when we can retire our political beliefs at the door and settle back for a crash course in appreciating the District.
This is one argument that we can all get behind. It's a relief, for once to be able put forth a conclusion about Washington without worrying about offending someone — except, of course, for you loyal New Yorkers, Chicagoans, and San Franciscans. (We call ALL agree that Los Angeles has no chance to be named America's most beautiful city).
I don't mean to shortchange Chicago. I live and work in New York — and I was born here. So, I fully appreciate the majesty of these two great American towns, too.
But we must all bow down to Washington and appreciate its beauty.
OK, got it? Now, you're free to argue about politics again. Don't let me stop you!
Jon Friedman writes the Media Web column for MarketWatch.com. Click here to read his latest column. He is also the author of "Forget About Today: Bob Dylan's Genius for (Re)invention, Shunning the Naysayers and Creating a Personal Revolution," which is now available. Read more reports from Jon Friedman — Click Here Now.
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