The earthquake that occurred near Washington D.C. on August 23rd comes at a time when loud and dangerous rumblings are occurring politically. A bitter partisan war has been ongoing. The ramifications have affected our country, with government shutdowns, and close calls with economic calamity. Symbolically, the Washington Monument suffering small cracks at the very top represent cracks in the foundation of government. Economists are giving dire warnings about a financial crisis, while public sentiment has condemned lawmakers for undermining the process of government. Mother Nature adds a warning as well. The Washington Monument is an icon. It has nearly mythical properties. In this case, it is the pinnacle of democracy, which has been thrown into turmoil with rampant upheaval of the operation of our government.
One interpretation is that we are being warned that we need to get our act together, that cracks are developing in the foundation of our country. Other damage that occurred was to a prominent church in Washington D.C. Since religion has an influence on lawmaking, this again could be interpreted as a warning. A more literal interpretation is that people in some of the major population centers on the East coast should not feel so complacent about being immune to earthquakes.
