Suddenly, Miami is a Nice Place to Live
May 4th, 2010DC Looms Before Me
Tomorrow I fly to DC. On Thursday and Friday, I’ll attend the National Day of Prayer and a dinner with Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, founder of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. On Friday, I’ll be at a breakfast at the Israeli Embassy, and then I’ll tour the Holocaust Museum.
It’s an honor to be invited. Still, I wish they could hold these events somewhere else. Washington, DC is a hotbed of violent crime, and the Second Amendment does not exist there, and I won’t be able to carry a gun. The hotel where I’ll be staying sounds borderline dangerous. The events should be wonderful, but the city takes a lot of the shine off the trip.
Maybe they should meet in the IFCJ’s hometown instead. But wait. That’s CHICAGO. Arghh. Suddenly DC doesn’t look all that bad.
Here’s the main reason I decided to go: I want to walk by faith. This is one of those improbable opportunities God drops on people, and I want to stay in the flow of God’s will, so I accepted the invitation. I know there is a reason for it, and good things will result from my obedience. I hope that doesn’t sound ungracious. I’m extremely enthusiastic about the events. But how can anyone get excited about DC? It’s like visiting Fallujah. They should call it East Detroit.
Boy, that gun control works wonders, doesn’t it? Look how safe DC and Chicago are. I almost wish I were a gun-grabbing Congressman, so I would have heavily armed police, federal agents, and military personnel to take care of me.
I hope people will pray for my safety, and that I’ll accomplish whatever it is that God wants done.
I will not be afraid, though ten thousands of people set themselves against me, round about. Though an host should encamp about me, my heart shall not fear. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. No evil shall befall me, neither shall any plague come nigh my dwelling, for God shall give his angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. They shall bear me up in their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.
All the same, I wish I could take my Glock.
I am not a great fan of Miami, but the prospect of visiting DC helps me see the positive aspects of this place. I can carry a gun everywhere I go, including church. I am not very likely to need it. And I don’t have to spend much time in the decrepit heart of the city. This is not Tennessee or Texas, but it’s a huge step up from DC, New York, Chicago, LA, or any of the big eastern seaboard cities. Those places are like twenty years away from Soylent Green conditions. Detroit is already there. I think it’s where they filmed the outdoor shots for Battlefield Earth.
Safety is the only thing about the hotel that concerns me. I am not picky about accommodations. I’ll take ear plugs and decongestant spray, and those things should cover the most likely problems. I just want clean sheets and a temperature between 70 and 75 degrees, and I’ll be fine.
The food up there should be good. Miami is not a great restaurant town, and I cook better than any restaurant I know of, so I have no motivation to go out. DC has Indian and Ethiopian food, so I’m hoping to try a couple of places. I would love to have a big plate of beef or lamb bhuna and some terrifying appetizers. No one in Miami will use enough peppers; they’re abject cowards. Maybe the Indians in DC will take me seriously.
May 4th, 2010 at 2:05 PM
Prayers for a safe trip. Could I ask for some in return? My mom is on her deathbed. She and my family could use some prayers about now.
May 4th, 2010 at 3:29 PM
Like the joke’s punchline: I sent a boat and a helicopter, what else did you want me to do?
Remember to always travel with someone who can’t run as fast as you – you don’t have to be faster than the thief, just faster than the slowest guy.
-XC
May 4th, 2010 at 3:39 PM
Steve,
It ain’t that bad. I had to sit through two speeches while I was there. Hillary and Al. For me that was torture. I was at a union regional meeting. Had dinner in some very nice restaurants. I wouldn’t advise running around the streets after dark but cabs take care of that problem.
I also visited the Museum. It shakes you up and increases your prayer life.
May 4th, 2010 at 4:09 PM
Have a safe journey. As in many other cities, the safety factor is largely dependent on your location. Since Elder Daughter lives there, we have visited many times, and we’ve never had a problem (kein ayin hara). DC is a walk in the park compared with great big swaths of Miami.
May 4th, 2010 at 4:35 PM
n5, God bless your mother and take her home gently.
May 4th, 2010 at 4:47 PM
The big differences between DC and Miami are my inability to arm myself and my inability to avoid dangerous areas in DC. In Miami, you can go weeks without entering a really bad neighborhood. DC’s main attractions are in dangerous areas.
May 4th, 2010 at 5:31 PM
Chicago’s main dangers are well away from the places “respectable people” frequent – and is more gang to gang (and collateral damage to innocent bystanders in the bad neighborhoods).
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When I was in DC many years ago, it seemed much the same. But sort of like Jamaca – don’t wander away from the herds in the well lit areas. Has DC gone even further downhill lately?
May 4th, 2010 at 6:32 PM
You can help call our nation to prayer by posting this prayer request to your blog’s side panel.
http://nationalprayerbank.com/Widgets/gjjmqiucar/
Blessings!
Brett
May 4th, 2010 at 6:59 PM
n5: On it.
How is Heather?
Prayers for you Steve.
May 4th, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Email me. I can show you around.
May 5th, 2010 at 12:08 AM
Praying for you Steve.
.
As a native Marylander, I can offer this advice: Stay west of the capitol and you should be okay. Southeast DC is the worst area, followed by Northeast DC. Northwest DC and Alexandria are the “Safe” areas but you’ll still find the occasional con-man/rip off artist/pick-pocket there as well.
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Safe travels.
May 5th, 2010 at 1:38 AM
I’t will be OK Steve. You’re just a little set in your ways I think (no insult intended) because you have birds and stay close to home in Miami most of the time. My girl and dog and I travel all the time all over the eastern US to places like Chicago and St. Louis and Kansas City and our rules are daylight activities only, and we use local transportation like Taxi’s (instead of renting cars that yell “tourist” to the local thugs) and the hotel courtesy van and we’re always back in our hotel room by dark most of the time. It is sad that since the 1960’s our nation’s capitol has been full of welfare recipiants and criminals–elected and otherwise. Try to catch a piece of the Smithsonian if you have the time–I like the Air and Space Museum.
May 5th, 2010 at 10:47 AM
DC Coast would be a great choice for dinner.
1401 K Street, NW
If you want Ethiopian, Meskerem in Adams-Morgan is fantastic.
2434 18th St NW
Best,
johnh
May 5th, 2010 at 3:43 PM
You could always take the Glock anyway… if you don’t have to go into buildings with metal detectors.
Our rights to protect ourselves come from god. Gun free zones are dangerous killing zones for anyone who wishes to kill lots of people. Look at Virginia tech. I avoid them whenever possible and if I have to go there I would consider being conscientious objector for the sake of my safety and the safety of others.
May 7th, 2010 at 11:48 AM
“They should call it East Detroit.” Even East Detroit changed its name to “Eastpointe” in 1992 to remove any perceived association with the adjacent city of Detroit
May 20th, 2010 at 1:19 AM
I agree, the food in Miami is terrible. Very poor restaurant selection compared to most major cities