On Washington's Red Line, which may as well be called the White Line as it rumbles below the city's palest quadrant, the atmosphere is discernibly different. It is all rustling of newspapers and ruffling of reports. It is sighing and harrumphing, little nonverbal gestures that say, all things being equal, they rather wish the entire world would fuck off. Washingtonians, it occurred to me, were not flip-flop people. I wondered how different America would be if the capital had been located in Key West. What if the nation's motto had been Let's get drunk and screw? Would the world be a better place?
On the Washington Red Line, the atmosphere feels heavier and more serious compared to other places, marked by the rustle of newspapers and the murmur of discontent among commuters. It conveys a sense of weariness, where people seem to wish for a reprieve from the world's demands. Observing the demeanor of Washingtonians, one notes they aren't casual or carefree. This ambiance contrasts sharply with the idea of a more relaxed and carefree America, as suggested by imagining a capital in a place like Key West.
Such a scenario raises interesting questions about national identity and values. If the motto of the nation were something as hedonistic as "Let's get drunk and screw," it prompts reflection on whether this would lead to a more lighthearted and happier society. This thought experiment hints at how location and cultural attitudes shape the psyche of a nation, suggesting that even the capital city influences the country's overall character and approach to life.
