Peter Schorsch
The Tower Bridge in London. The Sydney Opera House. The 408-foot spire of One World Trade Center in New York. The Empire State Building. San Francisco’s City Hall. The CN Tower in Toronto. Even the High Roller Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip. Each of these iconic buildings – and many others – were all bathed in bold blues, whites and reds as an eloquent expression of fraternity with Paris, the French capital.
Conspicuously absent from the list of landmarks lit in the French colors is the White House in Washington, D.C.
Some might argue that it wouldn’t be appropriate for the seat of America’s executive branch to display the colors of another country, regardless of the circumstances. And there may be some truth to that.
However, this is a White House that was lit in rainbow colors in June to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down gay marriage bans across the country. “The White House was lit to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to progress and equality, here in America and around the world,” a White House official said at the time.
Well, doesn’t America have an unwavering commitment to fight terrorism, here in America and around the world?
It’s probably best that the White House remain always maison blanche, but the precedent has been set. If the Obama administration green-lighted the pride colors being displayed, it should also project the Tricolor.
