The White House Now

 If you want to see the White House, you must first figure out which sidewalks have not been closed off with orange caution tape. Then you will walk between two or more parallel sets of fencing whose main purpose seems to be to severely shrink the areas where groups of people can gather. No one can cross the street. The "Do Not Enter" signs are on every other fence, reinforced by police, FBI, or random National Guard folks. From a distance, you can see what used to be proudly known as the People’s House. Notice that one of the new, redundant extra-large flagpoles partly blocks the view. Then turn around and look at the small Peace Tent, right there on the edge of Lafayette Park, manned (and womanned) continuously for 40 years by peace activists. There are no barriers–you can go right up and talk to them.