By D.A. Sharpe | Published Thursday, August 7, 2008
Washington D.C. is the heartbeat of our nation. It is the seat of what composes our history and heritage as a nation. Not only is a trip to D.C. an experience rich in our moorings as a people, it is the site of new and exciting things on the cutting edge of our world experiences. Such was the case for Suzanne, my wife, and me this July, as we do get to Washington D.C. once or twice annually to keep up with these things, as well as to immerse ourselves in the world of diplomacy and of politics that is so much a part of our lives.
Bursting onto the D.C. scene in 2008 is one of the most intriguing and engulfing museums I've seen! It is the news media's museum of its history and its place in our lives. Being a museum about the news, it is given the cute name of the Newseum. It's a comprehensive treatment of print media, radio journalism and television as a source of real information available each year to more and more citizens.
The food service area has the newspaper type of name recognizable to most people, "The Food Section." The atrium in the large center of the museum has a real helicopter hanging in mid-air. Of great interest to us here in North Texas is that it is the KXAS Channel 5 helicopter.
Our visit reminded me so much of our American history, especially over the past century and a half, yet it struck me as to how valuable of an experience to young people it is as an education event! The vast array of high tech presentations and interacting opportunities simply grabs your imagination and your intellect, creating a stimulus that is thrilling.
It moves your emotions. It shows the power of tears and of joy. It simply is the best cursory glance at our nation that I've seen.
Of course, the personalities who have comprised the news media are highlighted, and the video interviews of many are so revealing and inspiring. For example, you can see all of the Pulitzer Prize winning photographs since they began in 1942, learning the background and circumstance surrounding the photograph, most of which every one of you over age 35 will recognize as familiar. For those younger than 35, on down to late grammar school age children I would say, these are fascinating stories that throb with the heart of our nation in some aspect of greatness or of significant occasion for grave solemnity.
There are about 15 theaters, each telling focused stories, including one large 4-D theater. You wear those 3-D type of glasses (remember those old 3-D movies in the 1950s?) and the chairs are live with coordinated movement, vibration or even a splash of dampness, placing the viewers deep in the middle of a really great experience on the history of news. The chairs are the fourth dimension here.
There is a studio where, for a slight fee (I paid $5), you can be video filmed as a television reporter for a mock national news scene. Your "report" is posted on the Newseum's Web site for 30 days so you and your friends can replay it.
Needless to say, I had a little fun doing my report from the grounds of the Capital. You can find it at: http://www.Newseum.org/batvr on the Internet. It will be dated July 19 and will be posted until August 19. Its file identification is "kdeumkusjguniu." This was like a ham and rye sandwich. I was a little rye in my diction and there was a little ham in it, too.
Needless to say, I commend the news media industry for producing such a fine museum that is an excellent opportunity for education. I hope many readers will have the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. and will include the Newseum in your visit.
D.A. Sharpe is a resident of Aurora and former chairman of the Wise County Republican Party.
