For spring break, my girlfriend and I traveled to the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., for the first time. 

Over the span of three days, it was a lot to take in. Our trip took us to the Library of Congress, Capitol Hill, the National Archives, the Smithsonian Museums, the National Gallery of Art, Arlington National Cemetery, etc. 

D.C symbolizes the country’s ideals and efforts to fulfill them, so it was a fitting adventure for two people with a passion for law. Each stop sparked profound reflection; we were finally at the heart of the country’s history and future.

Throughout all of the tours of Capitol Hill and the historical landmarks we were on, ‘democracy’ was a common theme. It’s the force that holds power accountable. It’s the force that empowers us to ask questions and challenge fundamentals.

It can sound like a grand concept, but somehow, democracy’s strength comes from when it’s not always that clear. 

Visiting places like the Arlington National Cemetery, we were confronted with the reality of lives lost in war. We also went to the National Archives and were exposed to the history of those who fought lifelong battles just for a seat at the table. A statue of Martin Luther King Jr. stands in the Capitol’s Rotunda.

These are testaments to how democracy is an idea that struggles, can be misguided, and can be abused. On its own, democracy is a fragile ideal, but it draws its strength from reminders scattered throughout DC. 

Viewing the works at the National Gallery of Art exposes you to diverse ideologies and perspectives. The National Archives and the Library of Congress remind you of knowledge, and Capitol Hill reminds you how that knowledge is (or in some cases, is not) used. 

While there are reminders of this ideal, there has to be something to support it. There must be records of successes and failures, the empowered and the oppressed. If democracy is about moving forward, the only way to do that is if you have something to reflect on.

There has to be something that captures stories and reminds us of our ideals. 

As I walked through each exhibit, each street in the National Mall, and traced my eye along DC’s skyline from the top of the Washington Monument, I realized journalism isn’t just a contemporary figure. It brings truth to what is happening now and gives something to reflect on in the future. 

The Library of Congress will keep growing, and the connotation behind politicians in Washington will keep changing. Battles will be fought, ideas will be challenged, and ideologies will keep clashing. Nonetheless, journalism will be there to observe it all. 

People interact with journalism and don’t even realize it, yet without it, democracy wouldn’t be able to move forward. Like art, journalism captures who we are and allows us to reflect on that perspective.