Pics ?

To paraphrase one of Luke Skywalker's lines, "If there's a bright center of the universe, D.C. (aka the Dark Center) is the place that it's farthest from."

Obi wan's description of Mos Eisley fits, too, imo.
https://youtu.be/GoRPVsN2SVM

The day is still, Independence Day.
I never degrade it to 'the 4th.'
It's not just a day off for a bar-b-q.
It's the most important day for individual liberty in history.

Awesome analogy!

I've thought of DC as Mordor, the seat of the Dark Lord, sending out its despicable Orc armies to slap the rest of us around.

There are still AMERICANS out there.
I’m currently adjusting my thinking. I’m seeing D.C. as less the Capitol of “my nation” and seeing it more as the seat of The Empire in Star Wars. And I’m on one of the outer rim planets being subjugated.
When you frame it more that way.....the narratives they are pushing make a lot more sense.
Every July 4th I become more cynical.

Sounds like a very Texas wedding! Love it!