The best thing about the Palisades-MacArthur neighborhood in DC is the annual Fourth of July parade down MacArthur Boulevard. I offer today's snapshots as part of the long "the way we live now" chronicles. Also, with the sense that if a Tocqueville, a Frances Trollope, a Charles Dickens, or some other outside observer happened upon such a spectacle, he or she would marvel at the easy communal patriotism on display, the wide/wild variety of civic organizations (one of Tocqueville's big themes), and the amazing absorptive capacity of American life. Not to mention: this is a different face of DC from the one familiar via West Wing, Veep, House of Cards, cable TV generally, most political speeches, or even This Town, whose overall outlook I naturally sympathize with. Here we go:
Motorcycle cops to lead things off.
Bagpipes -- one of several such units.
Lead marchers for "Different Drummers," a LGBT marching band and drill team. This lead pair holding the sign, one with a rainbow-flag cape, kept chanting, "Now we're married -- just like you!"
Representing our city, Miss DC-USA.
One of the many fraternal orders in the parade.
More from the same group. I couldn't read the banner and thought I shouldn't yell, "Who are you, and what about these white capes?"
Van from the Bomb Squad. Most frequent comment from the crowd: "We have a 'Bomb Squad'??? "
The mayor and most city council people showed up, with boosters. This is council member David Catania (with dog). Boosters of another member, Mary Cheh, are in the previous picture.
Boosters ready to hand out flags.
One of a very large number of groups protesting DC's indefensible "taxation without representation" status.
