Colors from the Past

Most folks, when they think about World War I, tend to recall images of black and white battlefields. It’s natural, as old b&w photos and movies are all any of us have seen of WW1.

Until now.

Der Spiegel has published an online article and photo gallery of heretofore unseen color images from the Great War. Fascinating stuff.

Here’s a link to the WW1 article, and another for the WW1 photo gallery.

As fascinating as the WW1 photos are, they are still scenes of sadness and of devastated lives.

In the decade prior to the war, back in 1907, an Italian film-maker had happier thoughts in mind when he created a short film titled Butterflys. The original masters of the film were thought to be long gone, but recently a fairly pristine copy was found.

Set to a new piece of music composed in 2008, Butterflys is an interesting piece for the first 4 minutes or so.

However, the final two minutes are quite unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The muted but still rich colors of this hand-tinted film seem to come to life in the beautiful finale. Click on the image below to view the video.

This is for my dad, Sheryl’s dad, Uncle Bernard, my brother Steven and his daughter, my cousin Jerry, my nephew Josh, my friend (and best man!) George, plus all of the other veterans I know (or don’t know for that matter).

From one vet to another, Thank You.

Your service and sacrifice for our country will never be forgotten.

It’s been 7 years. Obama’s talk tonight at the 9/11 Forum on Community Service reminded me of how united we were in the days following the events of 7 years ago. I would like a return to the feeling of one America, bound by our past, our heritage and most importantly by the laws and rules, based on the US Constitution, that have served us so well, so far.

Remember:

eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty … Andrew Jackson farewell address, March 4th, 1837

It also brought to mind, in a very visceral sense, this song of hope, humility and resolve:

We will get by, We will survive!

Update:

Nightjack, an English Detective, shared this song by Simon and Garfunkel, An American Tune. It seems to match the mood and feel of the day.

There may still be one or two people (see previous post) who aren’t clear on who’s the presumptive Deomocratic presidential nominee, but as the graphic below shows, the world at large doesn’t share this confusion.

We’ll save our final congratulations until August and November, but for now let’s acknowledge the historical significance of Barack Obama winning the Democratic presidential primary race.

If you are curious how my original, tepid, support (acknowledgement of the inevitable was more like it) for Hillary evolved into strong support for Obama, a couple of things stand out, beyond his general message of hope and strength and plans to

Barack’s speech on race relations, which acknowledges the real issues facing our country in an honest and adult manner really should be observed in its entirety.

It’s nice to be spoken to as an adult.

The other thing, I have to admit, is a video that came out a couple of months before the aforementioned speech. Yes We Can, simply put, is a inspiring and persuasive musical vision of a world that I grew up in; a time when America was a can-do nation; a time when we lead the world; a time that is within our power, today, as Americans, to bring back to reality.

we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

On February 4th, 2 months before his assassination, Martin Luther King gave a sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. The sermon was on the topic of the “Drum Major Instinct”, and deals with how we all, in various ways, are tempted to give in to the temptations of “keeping up with the Joneses,” and the problems associated with such pursuits.

An interesting sermon, to be sure, and worth reading, but the “Drum Major Instinct” is most well known as the source of the eulogy for Martin Luther King. You can read (or listen) to the entire sermon: Drum Major Instinct.

In my own DMI way, I almost began this posting with an observation of how old I feel, given my age when MLK was killed 40 years ago. It’s true, though, so there it is, but this post isn’t about me; it’s about someone whose positive impact on our country’s history is yet to be fully appreciated.

I’ll further note that as I get older, and realize it’s very hard for one person to change the world, it’s actually not too hard to change the world, one person at a time.

Below is the conclusion of the sermon, where he speaks of how he would like to be remembered.

Drum Major Instinct

Every now and then I guess we all think realistically (Yes, sir) about that day when we will be victimized with what is life’s final common denominator–that something that we call death. We all think about it. And every now and then I think about my own death and I think about my own funeral. And I don’t think of it in a morbid sense. And every now and then I ask myself, “What is it that I would want said?” And I leave the word to you this morning.

If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. (Yes) And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize–that isn’t important. Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards–that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school. (Yes)

I’d like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to give his life serving others. (Yes)

I’d like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King, Jr., tried to love somebody.

I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question. (Amen)

I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry. (Yes)

And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked. (Yes)

I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison. (Lord)

I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity. (Yes)

Yes, if you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. (Amen) Say that I was a drum major for peace. (Yes) I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. (Yes) I won’t have any money to leave behind. I won’t have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. (Amen) And that’s all I want to say.

If I can help somebody as I pass along,

If I can cheer somebody with a word or song,

If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong,

Then my living will not be in vain.

If I can do my duty as a Christian ought,

If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought,

If I can spread the message as the master taught,

Then my living will not be in vain.