retrocessional

 

Give it back. That was the caption of my drawing showing my suggestion for a new flag for D.C. - the 17th-century heraldic banner of arms of Cecil Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore. Look familiar?

The Washington Star ran a contest back in the 1970s: it was time, they said, for a new flag for the District of Columbia. 

I thought of representation, of ‘taxation without representation’, and of “DC : The Last Colony”, and wondered, if it were not time to make sure that residents of the federal city had a vote.

Hence my suggestion.

From the first days of our republic, the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 17) provided for a district set aside for the federal government, to comprise a territory not exceeding ten miles square. So the founders picked a place, straddling the Potomac River, with some land ceded by the states on either side, Virginia to the south and west and Maryland to the north and east.

But from 1801 the residents of that district no longer had a vote in federal elections, as The Economist points out (“DC history: Without representation”, August 8th 2020, 23). And by 1846 the people on the Virginia side had had enough, and by an act of retrocession recovered the franchise, and the Old Dominion its territory. 

So the orphaned voters were only on the northern side. But they need be orphans no longer. 

It is time for the residents of the Capital city to have a voting representative in Congress. The question is how.

Before the Senate languishes a House resolution to grant the District statehood. They could pass it, and send it to the Resolute desk for signature. That would do it. 

But perhaps ticklish Senators will seek a compromise. And that could come another way: by retrocession of territory to Maryland, reserving for the seat of government a federal district comprising the Capitol, the National Mall and Memorial Parks, and the President’s Park (White House), all now national park land and with no permanent residents.

Washingtonians would gain voting representation in both houses of Congress; but they would become residents of Maryland, perhaps of a new county, called Potomac or Columbia.

It may not fly. But hey, why not run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes?

https://www.heritage.org/report/the-constitution-and-the-district-columbia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Maryland

https://www.economist.com/united-states/2020/08/08/residents-of-washington-dc-could-once-vote-for-congress

coming to our senses

John Bee and John Leech sharing communion in Edmonds City Park
(photo: Christine Sine)

Re: "Smells and bells", Letters, May 16th 2020, The Economist, p 14. Re: "Our Father, who art in cyberspace", April 11th 2020.


The Episcopal Church basically went online Tuesday March 17th ... and it looks like that is the order of the day for many dioceses (regional judicatories) at least through late May or the end of May ... So the people of the church have been telephoning, emailing, video conferencing, to pray together, worship together, and visit with each other. After an extended period of Eucharistic-centered devotions (which in some senses will never end) we have rediscovered and deepened our appreciation of daily devotions at home or with others via zoom, web chat, facebook, facetime, youtube, email, phone... and felt gratitude when we can get outdoors and enjoy Spring.


Just this past week, pastors of dioceses in Western states, such as Bishop Rickel in Seattle and Bishop Reddall in Phoenix, have begun to discuss with their clergy and people when and how "re-opening" will occur. We are in Phase I of 4 phases: that is a long way from the sensual church - the engagement of all five senses in worship - that Nawshir Mirza of Mumbai recalls so fondly in his letter.

For the now, those who can take Eucharist must take it not only for themselves, but for all those, present, past, and future, who may not.

And in the meantime, we turn necessity toward invention. What we have gained, as we have lost some contact through our five senses, are ways not common to many - but to some - before this time, of making connection without touch, sight, smell, taste, or feel being easy communication.

Occasionally in Seattle the Rev. Phil Jackson invited me to lead TV Eucharist - two or more of us would gather, on a local television stage, and share communion; five thousand would watch. To see another take communion is not the same, but it is not nothing.

Indeed we do something even more insubstantial regularly without a qualm. We pray for each other.

There is no greater communion than that.