Defending Wilderness in Washington

I just returned from a brief trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate as a citizen lobbyist on behalf of America's Red Rock Wilderness Act. The red rock country of Utah and Arizona has fed my soul for many years, and I decided that it was time for me to give back a little.

I met with my representatives from New Mexico, plus a few from Texas. Even got a photograph of myself standing next to Senator Bingaman, in his office, beneath a photo he purchased from me at the Santa Fe Art Market some years ago.

I do not consider myself in any way a "political" person. The complexity and seeming glacial pace of the legislative process quickly causes my attention to wander. Nevertheless, I come home with a new respect for Washington because I gained a bit of insight into the incredible balancing act that our representatives must perform as they address the demands placed on them by their varied constituencies. "E Pluribus Unum" is no small feat, and it requires constant tending.

Washington is a surprisingly beautiful and vital town. I had little time outside of my work to visit some of the landmarks, but I did have a chance to see the Vietnam Memorial, and to pay my respects to a couple of guys I once knew. This image, with the faint reflections of me and the surrounding landscape, signifies for me the contrast between the ephemeral visits of millions who pass by, and the permanence of the price price paid by each of the people whose names are on that wall. Please, click on the image to see the names.