To the Editor:
After a chaotic year of upheaval, uncertainty and ugly rhetoric from the White House that permeated all phases of life in the Washington area, in the USA and in the world, 2017 ended on a high note — literally.
Thanks to the skillful planning of the First Night committees, those who attended this sprightly New Year’s Eve ritual (in spite of the frosty weather outside), found a tranquil oasis of soothing sounds, upbeat tempos, rocking rhythms, and a joyful sense of togetherness as we sifted among the 48 options to choose from. They ranged from Haydn and Mozart to Elvis, to foot-stomping Ruthie and the Wranglers, to the Step Dancing, violin-playing members of the Irish Breakfast band, to the peaceful and soothing melodies from the Washington Philharmonic Woodwind Quintet, and many other outstanding sounds. Bravo!
Of particular note were the many fun things offered to young children. In addition to the usual face painting, balloon sculptures, clowns, puppets, craft projects like ship building, and tunes for tots, there was the boon for parents in the Countdown for the Kiddies from 7 to 8 p.m., so they could have their own celebrations, tailored to earlier bedtimes.
One of my favorite memories of the night were the many pint-sized preschoolers who took to the dance floor of the Masonic Temple with zest and enthusiasm, to swing and sway to the Honky Tonk melodies of Bill and Bob Classic Country show. It was pure magic! I wanted to embrace their carefree joie de vivre and unfettered happiness.
Watching from the sidelines, I suddenly felt freed from the shackles imposed on those of us living in the Washington area since Jan. 20, 3017, who were in the front-lines of these seismic shifts. On a daily basis, I have felt as though “fear” was now part of my life as I worried for the first time about nuclear war, as a possible deadly reality. I worried about alienating our long-time allies, turning our backs on major environmental concerns and walking away from the Paris Climate accords, espoused by 192 other UN member countries, or global security concerns with NATO and our other treaty partners. I worried about our lack of humanity, in not passing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) or welcoming legislation for the 800,000 DACA young people — with 97 percent of them in school, at work or in the military. I worried about living in the presence of an inert, uncaring, self-centered Congress that chose to do nothing when one man in Nevada randomly shot almost 600 innocent people. Or one of their own was shot at an Alexandria ball field … And there was no response from Congress.
Thank you, organizers of First Night, for the musical reprieve that freed my soul for a few blissful hours. And thank you to the City Council, that provided the financial support for this worthwhile event.
Kathleen M. Burns
Alexandria