Today in Seattle

In 2016, when the hatred and vitriol is flying, let's remember today. Today when 750,000 Americans (and Canadians) of all races, beliefs, political persuasions and sexual orientations packed themselves into the downtown streets of Seattle and cheered a team of misfit true believers who beat the odds and silenced their critics. Not a single person was arrested. My sister-in-law who works at Harborview said it was strangely quiet. 750,000 people, many of whom had spent the night saving spots. Think about it. Many of us have relatives whose families can't make it through Christmas dinner without at least one arrest and a trip to the ER. This is Seattle, where jacked-up NRA-stickered F-250s follow Coexist-plastered Subarus; where Alaskan fishermen rub shoulders with queer activists in Ballard bars; where self-righteous liberal white folks walk 6 blocks south to conspicuously eat at "soul food" restaurants filled with incredulous and amused black folk. This is Seattle and we all got along. Let's remember this.