Washington. Our nation's capital. A city of monuments and history and, in the spring, clouds of lovely magnolia, dogwood and cherry blossoms. It's also the city our political candidates love to hate. This is the season for bashing and trashing Washington by would-be politicians certain that voters despise the center of our democracy.

Well, I'm not one of those voters. To me, Washington is a symbol of our freedom. We may not have the perfect democracy, but it's the best on the planet. We may resent paying taxes or condemn a Supreme Court decision or decry the partisanship of Congress. But, we are grateful to have the protection of our unmatched military forces, the surety of the rule of law and the ability to elect our leaders.

We may denounce government interference in our lives, but we want that government's help when a tornado flattens our home or a flood carries away our business. Our state legislators bemoan everything federal from taxes to mandates until they need funds for a new highway or help fighting forest fires. How many of us stop to think that few governments in the world permit their citizens this kind of speech--speech that is critical of the government, its policies and its leaders? Freedom of speech is core to our democracy, but it is a rare privilege in much of the world.

Every year, millions of Americans flock to their capital. Parents bring their children to see the institutions and treasures that represent the American democracy. Outside the National Archives, lines of people form to glimpse the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Crowds wait to get a seat inside the Supreme Court chambers and to tour the Capitol.

Adding to these numbers are tens of thousands of foreign visitors who also want to see the symbols of the world's greatest democracy. Many of them would give up everything for the chance to make it in America. Many of us come from families who gave up everything for the opportunity to make it in America. We are the lucky ones.

Washington is a city of remarkable institutions without which our democracy could not survive, much less thrive. These institutions are what allow us to govern ourselves. One need only look at the chaos of Kosovo or Somalia, countries that lack the rule of law, to understand the importance of having a system of laws to live by. Few of us like every law; many of us try to change some of those laws. But, they give us the security to live our lives and conduct our business, certain of the legal framework that governs us. That is a great gift of our democracy.

The euphoria that followed the recent presidential election in Mexico reflects the value other countries' citizens place on the right to vote, free of coercion, with a truly secret ballot and a choice. We take that for granted now, even though many Americans were denied the right to vote throughout much of our history. Our ability to protest, constantly upheld by the Supreme Court, finally pushed Congress to guarantee all Americans the right to vote. That right, key to our freedom, is also a rare privilege around the globe.

In Washington, freedom of speech abounds. Protesters maintain a constant anti-war vigil across the street from the White House. The Mall plays host to tens of thousands of marchers, advocating their positions or rallying behind a vision. Whether it's choice or the WTO or the Million Man March, Americans make their way to Washington to voice their opinions.

Our views are as diverse as our ancestry and that, too, is a central theme of our freedom. We may not get what we want, but we may tirelessly and forever advocate our opinions, no matter how controversial or unusual they may be. Over time, change has come in America, however slowly and painfully, because individuals have demanded it. Our democracy grants us that opportunity. To me Washington represents that opportunity. It is a symbol of freedom for all Americans--and for a wishful world.