To understand this country, you must understand the paintings in the Whitney Museum in New York, or know how to pretend to, but you must also understand the 3-story-high Pink Flamingo at the Cafe Hon in Baltimore, along with next week's HonFest, a local tradition that has become an international curiosity. 

It's important to know how to look at all parts of America.

Many thanks to Jerry Weintraub for being the inspiration for this post.