On Virginia and Charlottesville

For me, Virginia is the center of the United States. Virginia, where eastern government and western freedom come together, which once stretched to the Mississippi. Virginia, where norther intellectual industry and southern spiritual artistry come together, which staged the Civil War battles between centripetal and centrifugal forces as our nation endeavored to purge its original sin.

Virginia has many interesting towns: Bristol, Staunton, Front Royal, McLean, Williamsburg and Charlottesville, to name my favorites. Of these, Jefferson's Charlottesville is a center of sorts. I've never lived in Charlottesville and perhaps have a somewhat mythological view of the town.