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Celestial Stained Glass Window Represents Blending of Culture and Religion

 

“Science and Technology” stained glass window containing a moon rock at the National Cathedral. Photo by Cory Hancock.

Walking up to the towering immensity that is the National Cathedral is an overwhelming and spiritual experience, regardless of religious background. The Cathedral itself is a picturesque castle derived straight from a vampire movie, locked in the timelessness of the gothic architectural era. However, while 418,000 people visit the Cathedral yearly, according to www.cathedral.org, it is surprising to find that many of them don’t know about the modern marvels and secular themes incorporated throughout the design and decoration of the church itself.  

When first walking into the National Cathedral, there is a plethora of visual stimuli that is nearly impossible to unpack all at once. From the pointed arches that extend towards the heavens, to the beautifully embroidered tapestries and carefully crafted altar pieces, it’s not uncommon to wander the Cathedral completely mesmerized, sometimes overlooking one of the church’s most fascinating modern marvels that honors more than just religion.

One of the most compelling pieces of secular decor in the Cathedral is the Space Window. In 1974, the Nixon presidential administration authorized the gift of a lunar rock from astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. This extraordinary piece was given to the Cathedral to commemorate the five year anniversary of man’s first steps on the moon. The window depicts outer space, including the Earth and the flight path of Apollo 11; a nod towards the technology and science of the 20th century. However, many people have been left confused as to how a piece of the moon encased in an airtight nitrogen chamber honors the holiness of the Cathedral.

When asked why an item with such a secular connotation was made a part of the Natural Cathedral, volunteer museum docent, Tony Domenico, stated,

“We are a national cathedral and…we accept secular influences throughout the Cathedral because we’re accepting all kinds of different people.

Another visitor, Victoria Lewis, is an avid member of the Christian faith with an all-encompassing passion for science. She believes that science and religion are best viewed side by side, working together to enforce one another. She says,

“I think science is just the explanation of how God created everything, how everything works, and we’ve only just developed [the] tools to see that now.”

Since the National Cathedral receives no funding from the federal government or the Episcopal church, they are free to incorporate aspects of any religion they please. Visitors of the Cathedral that are followers of the Christian faith believe the moon rock is a unique piece of the galaxy created by their God and are free to honor it as such.

In addition to a deeper, more metaphysical answer, the lunar rock exhibition provides entertainment for those visiting the Cathedral that aren’t necessarily religious, as it is nearly impossible to be bored by a piece of outer space. Visitors who come to the Cathedral to experience the history as opposed to religion are able to find several secular points of interest that merely provide entertainment.

One of the major tourist focal points of the Cathedral is the Darth Vader grotesque on top of the building. The grotesque was added to the building in the 1980s as the result of a design competition held by the Cathedral during a period of renovation and reconstruction. As the Star Wars franchise continues to remain popular in the 21st century, the hilarity of the secular decoration draws many people to the church annually.

Another non-religious focus point of the Cathedral is the Canterbury pulpit. Carved in England as a gift to America, the pulpit showcases carvings of the men credited with translating the Bible. Notice the pulpit does not credit Christianity directly, rather, the men responsible for making the teachings of the Christian faith available to everyone. Another side of the pulpit contains a carving of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, a completely secular image with immense historical meaning.

While these pieces are fascinating and beautifully blend into the design of the Cathedral, they certainly aren’t the most religious decorations the church has on display. This provides a sort of reprieve, and sometimes comedic relief, to people that come to the Cathedral looking to experience culture, both inside and outside of religious confines. The Cathedral does a brilliant job of tying in the major, sacred aspects of Christianity as well as giving viewers a healthy dose of modernity.

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A kite glides in Berkeley

Kites of all colors, shapes, and sizes, soar through the summer sky. Photo by Allie Anderson.

BERKELEY, Calif. — The last weekend of July brings a world of color down by the  Berkeley Marina, where children, families and friends have been going on for more than 30 years to the Berkeley Kite Festival.

The day begins at 10 a.m. with a few kites, and kite enthusiasts  finishing setting up. Within a couple of hours, the entire hill is covered with kite fliers and kite watchers. There are small kites, big kites and people of all ages enjoying the view.

“It really turns out here in Berkeley, like by noon everyone will have held a kit. Anyone can do it from 5 years old to over 80 years old,” John Barresi said, while continuing to fly and do tricks with his own kite.

He has been participating in the sport for more than 25 years, simply because “it’s relaxing.” He noted that when one is tense, the kite will be tense, too, but if the controller on the ground is relaxed, the kite flows more freely, which makes for a better time.

There are also kite ballets and competitions at the event for more organized entertainment. The festival brought thousands to Cesar E Chavez Park over two days. Remember to grab a kite and a sweater before you go next year.

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Local retail spots boost for economy

Steak ‘n Egg Kitchen is a popular local spot with American University college students and residents. By Celina Ryan.

WASHINGTON, D.C.–Anne Garner sat on Steak ‘n Egg Kitchen‘s patio on a sunny Friday morning reading and eating breakfast.

The 65-year-old said the food is amazing, it’s always cooked perfectly and it’s inexpensive.

“The people, the staff, are wonderful,” Garner said.

Garner prefers independent businesses because they are “more unique” and great for the community, a fact that research supports.

In 2012, Civic Economics found local restaurants, on average, recirculate 79 percent of their revenue locally compared to chain restaurants’ 30 percent.

Independent stores help the local economy, but many in both rural and urban areas are facing competition from chain franchises and big box retailers.

Many small businesses in Washington, D.C. know they face tough competition and take steps to stay in business.

Laurie Tucker, an owner of a small health and wellness business from Greenville, Rhode Island, likes to support other small businesses.

“You have to find your niche, you give that personal piece that the big chains [can’t],” said Tucker, 44.

In Tenleytown, down Wisconsin Avenue from Steak ‘n Egg Kitchen, there’s a Panera, a Chick-fil-A, and a Starbucks. Tenleytown residents said this week that although they prefer to support small businesses, they often end up at chain stores.

Linda Jewell, 63, stood in line at Starbucks while talking about her preference for local businesses. She said local shops offer a better sense of community. So why was she at a chain?

The Tenelytown neighborhood in Northwest Washington is a mixture of local businesses and chain stores. By Celina Ryan.

“I feel sort of guilty about it,” Jewell admitted.

David Smick, 63, said he’ll pick a chain shop because it’s a known quality.

Jennifer Chapman agreed. She and others support chain franchises for the “standardized, predictable, quality.”

Chapman, 51, said she sometimes favors local spots like Busboys and Poets but other times said doesn’t pay much attention.

“I’m more indifferent to it,” Chapman said.

Back at Steak ‘n Egg Kitchen, Garner, who has lived in Washington, D.C. for 40 years, hopes local businesses can survive.

“They’re the best thing,” Garner said. “I just hope they can afford to stay in business. I hope more people can support them.”

 

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People rethink perspective on traveling after Istanbul terrorist attack

As terrorist attacks continue to strike countries in Europe like in Istanbul, individuals contemplate their views on travelling. Photo credits of commons.wikimedia.org
Individuals contemplate their views on traveling, as terrorist attacks continue to strike Turkey and other European countries.  
Photo credits of commons.wikimedia.org

WASHINGTON–People in the D.C. community took a new, defiant outlook on traveling this summer as they lamented the outcomes of the terrorist attack in Istanbul’s main airport in June.

Among a series of deadly attacks in Turkey, this recent act of terror killed 41 people, with hundreds severely injured. This attack in Turkey’s capitol was not an isolated incident, however. Terrorist attacks have hit Europe this past year, causing numerous deaths, heightening security and leaving tourists questioning the safety of their travels.

“I’m confused, frustrated and irritated. I feel that it is the same old narrative that we’ve been dealing with,” Rafiat Animashaum, a 21-year-old American University student, said. “It just doesn’t change.”

According to the National Counterterrorism Center, roughly 1 in 20 million people will be killed in a foreign terrorist attack. This means that there is actually a higher chance of being struck by lightning, getting in a car accident or drowning in a bathtub, than there is of dying in an attack.

“It’s an awful ordeal and really tragic for all of humanity,” Lexon Keet, 17, said. Even though he’s not flying this summer, Keet believes the chances of dying in an attack are very low. 

Although fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time is always present, people feel that this shouldn’t hold someone back from traveling.

“No matter where you go it’s dangerous. Some places are more than others, but that’s not going to stop me from traveling,”  Animashaum said. “I’m not going to live in a bubble.”

Emmy Liederman, 16, was in Spain for a vacation during this attack in Istanbul. “I don’t think we were necessarily concerned for our own safety for too long. I wasn’t afraid to travel to Europe just as I’m not afraid to walk the streets of NYC, even though in both places countless tragedies occur,” she said.

“Unfortunately, these events are no longer surprising,” Liederman said. “People can’t live their lives in fear, but we also can’t just sit back and just accept the fact that we live in a violent world.”

 

 

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Fourth of July offers fun, but plenty of risks

Picnics, family reunions and BBQs are great ways to celebrate July 4, but the holiday carries the label of the most dangerous of the year, according to the National Safety Council.

Additionally, celebrations in big cities like Washington, D.C. strike fear into many tourists and residents in the wake of such high-profile terrorism incidents like the Boston Marathon bombing in April 2013. The National Park Service on Fourth of July at the National Mall increased security screenings before allowing visitors inside.

“I haven’t felt as safe at big events like the celebration on the Mall recently as I have in the past considering what’s been happening worldwide,” said Katie Lenz, 24.

Even with what some see as a threat at major events like the National Mall Fourth of July celebration, fireworks and drunk driving over the holiday weekend are major threats, according National Safety Council.

In 2015, the National Safety Council estimated 409 traffic-related deaths and over 49,000 traffic-related injuries requiring medical attention over the holiday weekend.

The National Safety Council recommends drivers buckle up, reduce speed, refrain from cell phone use, keep small children in the back seat and avoid driving after drinking.

“During the 4th of July, I try to stay off the roads because I know how many accidents are gonna happen that night,” said Marisa Calderon, a 35-year-old mother of two.

Driving isn’t the only risk.

Over the July Fourth holiday, an average of 230 people every day will visit emergency rooms for fireworks-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Almost one third of those injuries are to hands and fingers, but the Commission reported serious burns and eye injuries also happen.

 

 

 

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Hope Folklife Festival brings light to issues affecting Basque region

Basque sign greeting people as they enter the festival.
Basque sign greeting people as they enter the festival on the National Mall. Photo credit Paige Goldstein.

This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates the cultures of the Basque people through dance performances, food tents and cultural exhibitions at the National Mall where visitors were greeted with an over-sized white sign during Wednesday’s opening ceremonies. 

The Basque people are an indigenous ethnic group location on the border of Spain and France. The people call themselves the euskaldunak, literally meaning “the Basque person.”

“I think the festival represented our culture well,” said Daniel Roth, a citizen of the Basque community.

Currently, many controversial topics including Basque independence, have been discussed in the community and those who attended Wednesday’s opening ceremonies hoped the festival would bring more attention to what they consider crucial issues. 

But despite the controversy, many attendees knew little or nothing about the issues impacting the Basque region and its people.

“I’ve never heard of them until I heard about the festival,” said Keani Solorzano, 18.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival brings attention to this unique culture, as well as starting the conversation about a free Basque State.

 

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In Basque region, Euskara language celebrates culture; brings controversy

Native Euskara speakers celebrate the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, June 29. Photo by Hannah Seewald.
Native Euskara speakers celebrate the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, June 29. Photo by Hannah Seewald.

WASHINGTON–This year’s theme for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. is “resilient communities,” one including the Basque region, in northern Spain and southwest France, where people have wanted independence for a very long time due to their cultural differences.

Euskara, the native language of the Basque people, is considered to be one of Europe’s oldest languages. It has been the subject of controversy because typically, Spanish and English have been taught in Basque schools, but Euskara is the traditional language of the area.

“Euskara is necessary for people to get jobs in Basque,” said Monica Salinas, 51, a Basque delegate who attended the festival to discuss policies.

Statistically, the Basque population density is above average for Spain and France. The Basque region has a population of 3 million people. Although it is a small area, there are many jobs due to the existence of industries including iron and construction. This is in contrast to many other areas of Spain that have high unemployment rates.

Another Basque native from the city of San Sebastian, Alex Vasquez, 26, said, “I think Euskara is better because we have different cultures and traditions.”

On the other side, Zed Burton, 60, an American visitor to the festival said, “In Basque, they should learn Spanish and English in school. What they do at home is their own business.They also shouldn’t be a separate country.”

Andrea Marzo, 15, a student in Lodosa, Spain, said, “I think that Euskara is good if you live in the Basque country, but if you don’t live there, Euskara doesn’t help you in anything. It has no function out of the Basque country.”

When asked if language is important to preserving a culture, Burton said “Language is number one. If you can maintain your language, you can maintain your culture. Language embodies the culture.”

While, Euskara is not used in areas other than the Basque country, it is important to the Basque people because it embodies their history and culture, and each year, there has been around a 2 percent increase in Euskara learners in the region.

“In Basque, it is good for students to learn both Euskara and Spanish, but the rest of Spain does not need to learn it,” said Marzo.

 

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Nearly five decades of culture on the National Mall

This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall celebrates Basque culture. Photo by Eli Siegman.
This year’s Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall celebrates Basque culture. Photo by Eli Siegman.

Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday to celebrate and learn more about the Basque region of France and Spain during the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall.

Valerie Emerson, 58, visited the market place during Wednesday’s Opening Ceremonies at the Arts and Industries Building to buy products made in that region.

Emerson, who said she comes every year, is devoted to the Smithsonian and the event, which has been an annual tradition since 1967.

“The Folklife Festival is a good way to educate the public about other cultures,” Emerson said.

Outside the Arts and Industries Building, food vendors and dance stages were set up along the National Mall.

Visitors and staff expressed excitement about this year’s festival, which runs through July 4 then begins again July 7 and ends July 10.

Deb Ramsey-Moor, 32, one of the staffers at the market place, has been going to the festival for 22 years and now works there. Moor listed some of the past countries that have been celebrated including Peru, China, Kenya, Scotland, Wales and Bhutan.

“We can learn a great deal from each other,” Ramsey-Moor said.

At Wednesday morning’s opening ceremony, Basque music played, dancers warmed up and people dressed in festive local attire took photographs with strangers and visitors.

Monica Firestone, 30, came to the festival because she studied abroad in college in Spain. Firestone knew a little about Basque, but saw this as an opportunity to learn even more.

“The Folklife Festival is a great tradition in D.C. and the Smithsonian,” Firestone said.

 

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Smithsonian Folklife Festival features international cultures

The opening ceremony of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall commenced Wednesday to celebrate both Basque culture and the sounds of California.

The Folklife Festival showcases each year cultural identity from the featured locations including art, food, dance, clothing and games.

Jacob Jaureguy, 21, and Sebastian Caldoron, 22, are both from Spain’s Basque region but now reside in California and perform in Basque dance group called Gauden Bat. Both men explained t

Traditional Mexican dancers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, June 29. Photo by Lauren Markwart.
Traditional Mexican dancers at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, June 29. Photo by Lauren Markwart.

hat many people from that northeastern part of Spain who move to the United States choose the West Coast as their home. They feel it is important for them to inform others about their culture through the performing arts.

“The basis of this is to get our name out there and show what we are about,” Jaureguy said.

Tradition is a major component of Basque culture. The people of the region have great pride in their language that predates both Spanish and French. Dancing in Basque has deep cultural roots and it is a, “mix between Irish and Ballet– but not at all,” Caldoron said.

The dancers also felt it was important to share their culture due to their country’s unique political situation.

Basque is a region officially described as an “autonomous” community sandwiched between Spain and France– both countries claim part of the region.

“At one point we were our own independent kingdom, but Spain took over and gave part of us to France,” Caldoron said.

Halfway around the world lies another culture featured in the Folklife Festival: California, and specifically, its music scene.

A music group from Southern California came to the festival to perform their traditional Mexican religious dance that has survived in the United States.

Diego Solano, 27, explained that when the Spanish came to his ancestors’ town of Santiago, in the Juxtlahuaca district in Southern Mexico, the foreigners did not understand their religion.

“When they came over to civilize everyone they turned our god to a devil,” said Solano, who held a devil mask as he spoke in the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries building.

The men perform their religious dance called the “Dance of the Devil” as they dress in colorful costumes with masks made by Alex Vasquez, 28, an active member in the group who was born in Tecomaxtlahuaca, a town in Southern Mexico.

Similar to Basque culture, traditions are very important to the people of Mexico who have come to live in California. Vasquez has made decorative masks his whole life with his father. Each mask takes about two weeks to create due to the attention each one needs. The masks are made in vibrant hues of reds and oranges and have horns poking out of the top.

Regions are chosen for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival to, “show and honor all of the different cultures that have immigrated here,” said Caldoron.

 

 

 

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Smithsonian’s newest museum to celebrate black culture

Tourists on the National Mall on Monday acknowledged the potential for the National Museum of African American History and Culture to broaden understanding of black culture as the building nears completion, but many were unaware of the museum’s construction before they arrived.

When asked about the site, reaction to the building and its future was overwhelmingly positive.

The museum will “help us understand what people of color have gone through,” said Michael Wolf, 51, a white man from Minnesota. It will educate us “so that we don’t repeat stupid things like slavery.”

Construction began in 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2016 according to the Smithsonian website.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture under construction at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue on the National Mall.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture under construction at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue on the National Mall.

Although the reaction to the museum was overwhelmingly positive, many white tourists were uncomfortable talking about the museum in the wake of a year in which racial tensions have flared. Many who agreed to be interviewed declined to comment once told the subject of the story.

Those who did share their opinions agreed the museum would help people appreciate the role blacks have played in American history.

The museum will highlight African American “achievements and accomplishments that have made the United States great,” said Wolf, who was touring the World War II memorial.

Stacey Jones, 46, a black woman from Houston, Texas said the museum will “help people see the contributions that African Americans have made to our society.”

The construction of the museum is a milestone for African Americans, and President Barack Obama weighed in on that significance during a groundbreaking ceremony in 2012.

“I want visitors to appreciate this museum not just as a record of tragedy, but as a celebration of life,” Obama said according to a transcript of the groundbreaking ceremony posted to the White House website.

On the Mall this week, tourists said they hope the museum will provide education and connect races.

“A better outlook at the other people,” said Marco Middleton, 25, a black man from Georgia about his hope for the museum.

It will “help us not compete against one another,” Middleton said.

The museum’s website reflects Middleton’s opinion, describing the museum as “a place that transcends the boundaries of race and culture that divide us.”

“It is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, art, history, and culture,” according to the Smithsonian website.

Different ethnicities will be able to understand black culture, Jones said.

“People will see things from our point of view,” Jones continued. “History textbooks are from a white perspective.”

Exhibits will focus on slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement, among others, according to the museum’s website. The collection is being formed.

Some people are blind to real history, said Pamela Clerk, 51, who is black.She hopes it will help younger generations learn.

The museum will have student workshops to offer that perspective that Jones said cannot be found in schools.

Student workshops at the museum “are a resource for youth (ages 10-18) in which themes in American history are illuminated through the lens of African American experiences,” according to the museum’s website.

That’s good news to Clerk.

“We have a great history and we’re great people,” Clerk said.