These United States

We took the tree down today and as I was packing up the ornaments I had to pause at one.

Yes, I'm one of those people who has an ornament of the Capitol building. I'm one of those people who leans over to try to get a glimpse of the building out of a plane as we fly by. Who never stopped feeling just a little in awe every time I caught a glimpse of it while driving through DC. Even after a decade of living there on every trip back I'd find the time to sneak away and go stand on the grounds and take it all in.

Some people can tell you all sorts of facts and figures about the Capitol building. When it was built, what statues are in it, exactly who and when various dignitaries have laid in state there.

I've taken the tours and been inside for meetings but couldn't recite back to you any of those facts. Because while impressive, it's not really just the building I'm in awe of.

When I visit DC, I don't go see the White House. I go see the Capitol building. Because while we have three branches of government, the Legislative Branch is what fascinates me. For all its pitfalls and slow progress, it's arcane traditions and its sometimes backwards ways, the Legislative Branch is where America is supposed to come together. It's where we're supposed to (respectfully) hash out our differences and discuss, find compromise and new solutions by being in the same space together.

And that is what was violated on Wednesday. Not a building, but a symbol of discourse and debate. Of recognizing that we are not one uniform group of people. We are these United States. The Capitol building is where these United States come together and keep together even through immense differences.

That's what was shaken on Wednesday and that's what we all have to fight to restore. From many, we are one. And without a place to become one, what are we?