bittersweet

route 20 south in the embrace of security perimeter

President Bush was at Monticello this morning welcoming 72 people from 30 countries into the brotherhood of legal citizenry.
It was a bitter-sweet event. The closest I got to seeing the President was when Marine One flew over the Woolen Mills.
Normally I attend the celebration at Monticello, but not this year.
Security was intense. In the photo above, WVAW reporter Mark Tenia shoots video of the Presidential motorcade route from a half mile away.
The Secret Service/State Police, felt the need to close miles of surface road and push out a wide security perimeter- Route 53 and Mill Creek Drive were shut down, even to pedestrians. There was a "national defense airspace," a no-fly zone, in effect for a few hours. Law enforcement personnel in abundance, hidden and in view.
President Bush started out, he said "To my fellow citizens to be, we believe in free speech in the United States of America."
This sentence delivered over shouted protest from someone who was able to attend the ceremony.


I biked up Route 53 yesterday (July 3). This bridge and flag the 21st century idea of what the entry to Monticello should look like. Disneyfication.


I wonder if the no-fly zone is post 9/11 policy?

Music by Jim Orr

free tickets

A passel of white people lined up this morning at the Monticello Visitor's center for tickets to the mountaintop's Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony.
It was like being in Vermont, white people everywhere.
I confess, I immensely enjoy the July 4 naturalization ceremony. The new citizens are given a chance to speak. They usually speak about why they value America, why they are choosing America.
Alas, President George W. Bush is coming to the Mountain July 4. Security concerns throw a wrench in the works. The coolest day of the year at Monticello is thus transformed, made formal, a day of lines and limited freedom.
I hope the new Americans say nice things. I'd attend if I could.

Calvin

Met Mr. Washington two weeks ago. He has a mission, a ministry, singing. No plans to stop until everyone has a home. "Come to Me"

day of rest

St. John Baptist Church, Pastor Kelvin R. Hawkins, 1595 St. John Road, Cobham, VA

day of rest

Mountain Park Baptist Church

Bach, Flip, Marvin Brown, Look3

download Marvin Brown

Still alive. The Festival of the Photograph, "Look3", Nick Nichols vastly expanded backyard party, going on in Charlottesville. Heaven on earth. People with cameras everywhere, music everywhere, images everywhere.
Moncure talked me into Flip video. Amazing little machine, what have the digital Gods wrought.The fabulous Marvin Brown plays Bach.
Two photojournalists staying here in the Starkes house, Sahal Abdulle from Mogadishu and Paul Brown from Beckley. Both troublemakers in their home places.
Trouble is what good journalists do.

day of unrest

Ten commandments at seventy mph. Have missed blogging, in search of the promise land.
Today we have been transcribing discussion regarding the Timberlake-Branham farm. Need help. There are passages that contain ???.
If you listen to the audio and figure out the true missing words, bless you.
Thou shall not mis-transcribe.
Thou shall not tell false history.