Exploring the City of Magnifiscent Intentions

From the union of art and politics in Washington D.C., its architecture and sculpture to the pathway where cultural boundaries are blurred and public spaces where democracy echoes, the city is a fusion of poetic beauty and authoritative might.

Washington D.C. is bound to be captured and retained in the memories of every visitor. As a journalist, I think Washington D.C. is an ever aspired destination, but at no point do I think I would be best capable of describing this city even in my mother tongue.

The city, which Dickens referred to as the the City of Magnifiscent Intentions, is a humbling reminder of the principle that all humans are created equal. Unlike the skyscrapers found everywhere else, Washington D.C. combines the classic elegance of Greece and Rome.

Washington D.C.’s architectures are borrowed from the ancient Greece and Rome style of domes, colonnades, and crystal marbles, a style always described as Neoclassical. I realized my walk to the streets was taking me through the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian column style.

Each landmark makes use of these architectural styles, like the Doric columns at the US Capitol or the Corinthian ones at the Supreme Court entrance.

Also, the city is an artwork by itself, displaying the divine menagerie of elements in perfect harmony. The symmetry of Washington D.C. is visible at a glance on the map, which shows an approximate arrangement of lines intersecting at the Washington Monument. Here, the lines lead to iconic Washington D.C. locations such as the White House, Capitol Hill and Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial.

Much as the blueprint is a marvel, the visit to Washington D.C. is a reminder of the sacrifices that have pushed forward greatness. As I stood by the Lincoln Memorial, the motto “e pluribus unum” resonates in the plurality of the ethnicities coming together.

Meanwhile, in front of the monument, the reflecting pool points in the direction of the WWII Memorial, a tribute to thousands those who perished and served during WWII. It hit close to home when I found myself sitting next to the memorial's inscriptions that read, “Bataan, Corregidor, Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.”

A short distance away, across the Potomac in Arlington, stands tall the U.S. Marine Corps Memorial, where the flag of America was first raised on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima. Indeed, through history and sacrifice, Washington D.C. will never be forgotten.

Fortunate indeed are those who come to D.C. to marvel at its remarkable edifices and public artwork, but more fortunate are those who who recognize in every facet of the city the enduring spirit of America's forefathers—a spirit that instills hope in the land of the free and the home of the brave.