22 Jul 2016

Things We Take For Granted:

The People of DC

Courtesy of Jon Meadows, via screenshot.

Courtesy of Jon Meadows, via screenshot.

We love interacting with our readers via social media. Whether you share them through Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, your observations, insights, comments and unique points of view mean very much to us. Your interactions also keep us informed of comings and goings in different parts of the neighborhood, and help tell the story of why Capitol Hill is your home.

The following guest blog post from our friend Jon Creasy over at Discovering the District was inspired in part by a conversation with a friend from out of town, as well as by an engaging Twitter conversation that took place on Tuesday afternoon. (You can read the conversation by clicking here.

We, too, love the fact that the DC die-hards are passionate and insightful people, who are actively trying to do better for their communities. There is much idealism that comes into the District: Bright, hardworking Types-A who come to Washington to make a difference in their communities, which they love passionately– though by no means are they the only people who move to DC. However, it’s also nice when some of these bright Type-A idealists also realize that the District where they have come to work can also become their city, and that DC deserves their love and respect. –MHC

PS: We take umbrage with #5, although we are not quite ready for our close-up.

Recently I went to lunch with a friend from out of town and he asked me the question, “How can you live in a city that’s full of nothing but corrupt scumbags?” His question sums up why I write about the people of DC. It’s why this blog exists.

Chad Hayward is the man who gave me the final kick out the door I needed to move from Tennessee to DC. He’s what he liked to call an “accidental DCer.” He learned to love DC kicking and screaming. Chad grew up in rural South Dakota (the closest McDonald’s was 40 miles from his house), and he wanted to be a Hill Staffer. He wanted to be one so badly that he turned down a job in the White House.

The type of people that come to DC, Chad says, are 2, 4, 7 year, and life-plans. This is much the model Chad followed, except instead of picking one, Chad chose to pursue all four plans. Yes, he moved to DC and out that many times, but something kept bringing him back. Chad loves DC. He will always love DC, and he routinely encourages me to write. He believes there are 100,000 other people like him out there who want to know that DC is just as good as it was when they were here. They want to know it’s getting better. So I write.

I asked Chad the same question my friend asked me.”How can you live in [and love] a city that’s full of nothing but corrupt scumbags?” Chad’s response was similar to the response I got on Twitter recently: “Show me the scumbags.” Chad can go all day without seeing one. Instead he sees pristine row houses, ladies pushing strollers, and exercisers enjoying the weather. Chad believes there is a community here that probably doesn’t exist in other places. There’s a sense of Home to the Hill. Most people don’t know this because those in Congress (presumed scumbags) only make up 0.08% of all the people in DC. And of that 0.08%, Chad has worked for 3 members, and he has respected all 3 of them. They’re not all scumbags. What a sad way to judge such a  city!

I asked Chad why he loves DC. His answer was perfect: Everybody in DC is trying to change the world. Other people in other places are trying to make a living and feed their families. Which is ok. I’m not elevating one above the other, but I know which one I prefer. I know which one I’d rather have a conversation with.

If you’re not from Washington DC, Chad made a small list of 10 things you should know. If you are from DC, you’ll get a chuckle. Here they are:

  1. DC is becoming a pristine city.
  2. People are trying to change the world.
  3. You can live here.
  4. People might be nice to you.
  5. It’s Hollywood for ugly people.
  6. The most dangerous place in DC is between John Kerry and the tv camera. Or at least so it was in 2004. I’m sure it’s Donald Trump now.
  7. DC is the smallest large city you’ll ever live in.
  8. When you walk down the street you’ll meet people who you know.
  9. The haves and have nots of DC are delineated by home ownership.
  10. True DC’ers stand on the right hand side of the escalators.

If you are like Chad, a DCer who always will be, I would love it if you would join my little community I’m building. I put out a weekly newsletter that you can subscribe to here. I want to discuss DC with you. I want to update you on your home. The one that isn’t full of scumbags. The one people need to know about. I hope to hear from you soon!

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