Closing Out The Memorials—I Think!

Dear Readers:

More memorials on this DC night tour:  Vietnam Memorial wall, Korean War Memorial of the Soldiers (have seen in both day and night; very impactful under the lights at night).  Some of these memorials are really huge and expansive.  At the Iwo Jima/Marine Memorial, my lack of photography skills caught up with me, and indeed they were not good the rest of the night, but here’s what I have:

The Lincoln Memorial I have seen in the day and the night both.  It is impressive in both, in different ways.  The riveting quotes are momentous either way:

 

"Thanks For...The Memorials!"

Dear Readers:

The DC Lights tour has a lot on it.  Next up was the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  Another one with great quotes, and also wistful longing for such individuals in the public sphere.  And so full, it will take this entire post!  Some examples:

“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.”

“I have the audacity to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture of their minds, and dignity, equality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, men other-centered can build up I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive goodwill will proclaim the rule of the land.”

"Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies."

“True peace is not merely the absence of tension—it is the presence of justice.”

Summer of Travel Continues!

Dear Readers:

Madame is off with her husband on a pleasure cruise (of which I am much envious!), so you will have just me for a few weeks.  She will probably delight us with her own travel chronicles when she returns.

Sunday’s post didn’t even get the whole travel day recorded (must have been the pics!), so it continues here (spoiler alert: it won’t conclude in this post either!).  As always, you can click on the pictures to make them bigger.

The evening after Arlington we went on a DC lights evening tour, including of the many memorials.  Although they didn’t go on our particular tour, a group of Buddhist monks were touring as well.  I snapped a picture  of them getting ready to…snap some pictures.

The tour headed off to the Capitol for some pictures and witty comments by the tour guide, then to the White House for some pics.  MFP may not have been impressed; she spent part of the time on her phone.  Or maybe she was texting her friends how cool it was.

The World War Two Memorial was very well done, with tributes to both the European and Pacific theaters, as well as the contributions of each state, each state having its own block.

The Jefferson Memorial was off the beaten path just a tad, and impressive at night even without the cherry blossoms in bloom. Here's one of the quotes there: "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man."

The FDR memorial was very impressive from the quotes, serenity, and simplicity, and makes for wistful longing for a time when politicians spoke and acted for the people they claim to represent.  Here’s just a sampling, many taken from the second inaugural address, a speech of importance for us today (http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5105/):

“We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.”

“In every land there are always at work forces that drive men apart and forces that draw men together. In our personal ambitions we are individualists. But in our seeking for economic and political progress as a nation, we all go up, or else we all go down, as one people.”

"No country, however rich, can afford the waste of its human resources. Demoralization caused by vast unemployment is our greatest extravagance. Morally, it is the greatest menace to our social order."

"Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men."

"Among American citizens, there should be no forgotten men and no forgotten races."

"Unless the peace that follows recognizes that the whole world is one neighborhood and does justice to the whole human race, the germs of another world war will remain as a constant threat to mankind."

Still In/On DC

Gentle and Not So Gentle Readers:

Even when that is nowhere near the intention, things demonstrate out Hedge’s admonition about spectacle, illusion, and decline of literacy, among other things, as Madame has pointed out.

The DC Chronicle continues!  Up in the morning and took the Metro out to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  

Could hardly keep focus on church, so grand was all the architecture, and people said there was a Ukrainian church a ways down that we should see too if we had time (we didn’t).  I snapped a picture of a stone carving of “St Monica” for my cousin Monica, and sent it to her saying that I never knew.  She quipped back, “I was stoned.”

Then it was on to Arlington Cemetery.  Solemn place.

Saw the eternal flame at JFK's Grave, and Jackie and RFK’s gravesites close by. 

Went to a Confederate era house of the former owners of the property (and with a great view of the city).  Then headed to the Tomb of Unknowns, where we see the changing of the Guard.  MFP thought that was very neat.

I was reminded of my old friend from USC Chris Stadler, who messed up his knees being one of the honor guards there, and kept his pledge to never drink alcohol the rest of his life.  Chris was also the guy who showed me how important it is to just think.  We all kidded around with him one time after a grueling stint at grad school what he was going to do over the weekend since he didn’t drink.  He said he was going to think.  We laughed and said sure, what are you really going to do.  He said he was going to spend many hours quietly thinking.  How many of us do that anymore?  How many of us do that…ever? 

I really liked the Memorial outdoor (Roman) Amphitheater by the Tomb of the Unknowns, with its inscription: “When we assumed the soldier, we did not lay aside the citizen."  I sat in the presiding chair, hopefully not a faux pas (if it was, fates forgive me!) and imagined how similar it must have been in similar amphitheaters in Roman times.

I listened hard but could not hear the spirits of the Romans.  I thought maybe I would hear them whispering to us not to repeat all their mistakes, not to follow them into oblivion.

When to Stay Home

 
Well, yeah I can see where that saying about youth being wasted on the young comes from. But I wonder about the complaining travelers. Travel seems wasted on some of them.  When I returned home from my recent tour of the Baltic capitals I was standing at baggage claim next to a woman wearing an Italy t-shirt.

"I take it you are returning home from Italy."

Please notice my clever powers of observation.

"Did you LOVE it? I've been twice and cannot wait to go again! What was your favorite thing? Where did you go?  (I can get excited about travel no matter how exhausted I am.) Isn't it the most beautiful place! Did you cry when it was time to come home?"

Bags went round and round in front of us as she tried to grasp my enthusiasm.

She stared blankly at me.

"Well...you know...I just didn't really like it that much. I mean the bathroom situation...everything is so different. They are speaking a different language."

She made this last statement with a childish look of surprise.

"But surely you must have liked something..."

"You know...the food was pretty good..."

As she talked I began to be more and more interested in where my bag might be...

"...I mean, I just wouldn't go back..."

OMG OMG --I see my bag! I've never been so excited to see my bag come around on the belt before. Are these the people who are clogging up the airports and museums? People who could be just as happy with a Big Mac watching American Idol?

Where does this idea of the Ugly American come from? From the woman at baggage claim and other travelers like her.

Only Americans travel the world and expect everything to be just like home only maybe with a pyramid or the Eiffel Tower...

People. We call it Vegas.

The Great Gadsby

You might be wondering, but yes, I did spell that right.  More on that in a moment.

The WWII museum in NOLA has that submarine thing now?  When I went, they didn’t have that.  Guess we’ll have to trade jealousies back and forth!  I do remember the interactive bar though.  :)

I do not remember such a spy reality show, but I go through bouts of TV culture stunting where I miss all kinds of great stuff.  Is it on reruns or download anywhere?

You are right about the pictures.  While I am a lousy photographer (unlike MFP, who takes good pictures; the problem is, she rarely takes pictures), I do sometimes snap a few, although only occasionally of people—me or others—and more of historical things or “nifty” things.  However, I got one picture of me and my uncle and “ex” aunt.  Yes, yes, I couldn’t resist wearing that T-shirt that day. :)  And we all had full bellies.  My uncle insisted on covering his up. :)  And yes, he does have only one arm, another reason he covered up, as it masks it in pictures.  He lost his arm in a farming accident at age 14.

Excellent suggestions for future discussion.  We will make it so upon your return and after you regale us with your own travels.

Today’s travel day discussed will be a rather light one, as it started late since we got back so late the night before.  But I will include a picture (two in one post would be a new Prof record, but four or five!), so while it may be word light, the overall will be about the same space. :)

While MFP slept like only teenagers can do, there were additional things to see!  Walked down to the memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence.   They have a stone block dedicated to every one of the signers.  It’s not a famous memorial; not many visitors.  I took a picture of Ben’s block:

Then went to see the Arts of Peace and Arts of War statues (donated by Italy).  They aren’t too far from the Lincoln Memorial.

Then went to Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.  Visited the Gadsby’s Tavern/Museum (George Washington ate and slept there).  It was pretty neat to see the ballroom, the private dining rooms of old and what they ate, the sleeping rooms, etc. 

Lots of shops on King Street.  And a bar/restaurant called Rock It Grille, where the author of this post may or may not in the past have sung karaoke. :)  Finished off the late afternoon with eating at Bilbo Baggins Restaurant and Green Dragon Pub, where, in simulated hobbit fashion, the servers aren’t taller than 5’5”.  Pretty cool drinks (orc grog named stuff) and the food was pretty good too.

Where to Next?

Professor J,

Per your request we now have a "travel" label. I feel so much better. :)

Jealous, jealous, jealous about the entire Spy Museum venture. Those museums with interactive possibilities are such fun, provided there is no age limit (stupid Jedi Training Camp at Disney Hollywood).  The WWII Museum in NOLA has a new interactive submarine experience my husband and friends did on our last trip. Of course that museum also has another great interactive experience I like: a bar.

Do you remember a Spy show on PBS a few years back? It was like Survivor for James Bond wannabees. Besides the Amazing Race it was the one reality show I thought I might like to apply for. Such skills seem handy things to know.

Am I the only reader thinking what a talented and accomplished family this is? Am I the only one who thinks these posts need at least a tad of photo journalism? Come on, Prof, one pic?

A week from today I'll be setting off on a historical Magical Mystery Tour. This travel label will get a few extra posts when I return, until then you'll have to regale the gang with even more of your summer exploits. But before that I wanted to throw out a couple of topics that may be worth discussing when the travel shine wears off. First, if you haven't heard about Dan Buettner of National Geographic and his Blue Zones project, here's the video:

And second, but along the same lines, is this article about research showing that the brains of Budhist monks who practice meditation have actually altered their brains in many positive ways: How You Can Train Your Brain to do the Impossible.  

Meditation has been a useful practice to me the past few months, so I was intrigued by the empathy and happiness connections.

These two subjects and the connections between them and many other things (which Buettner covers) fascinate me. What do you say? After a travel summer, how about a happy and healthy autumn? Barring any events that warrant discussion, of course.

Travelogue Summer

Dear Madame:

Definitely, we need a travel label.  Can you make it so? (“number 1!”) :)

The day after the 4^th (that would be the 5^th, but people can perhaps place the reference in a better mind-frame by the phrasing) started out with a carrot, beet, sweet potato, tomato, kale, spinach juice from a place called the Juice Joint Café.  Healthy and delicious, even without some of the fiber which gets lost in most juicing.

Today we toured the International Spy Museum, a place that I did not budget enough time for and which we shortchanged ourselves on the museum part itself.  We signed up to do one of their “operations,” (Operation Spy, in this case), and our appointed time left us with barely more than a third of the museum experienced.  Rushing past all the wonderful James Bond villains displays, etc., for example, was disappointing, and MFP was, if anything, more disappointed than me at having to do so.  But before that, we saw a lot of historical spy gadgetry, methods, and descriptions of spy scenes, including agents that got caught.  Spying has a lot of aspects, and it was interesting to look at the details.  The museum was founded by a “friend of the US intelligence services” who probably had many spy aspects himself (he’s still living, as far as I know).   The place radiates “cool,” and with a good yogurt, shake, and sandwich stop next door (smart owner!), it was nicely situated. 

Operation Spy had us joining others as US agents in a mythical country.  We got some brief time to get situated, then we had to find a secret way into the country within 15 seconds.  We did, got some continuing tech help, and then got our detailed briefing about the operation, which largely consisted of trying to stop the transfer of nuclear weapons materials. We had to navigate a secret, patrolled tunnel by shorting out security cameras, and our group wasn’t very “cohesive,” but we found out it was “broke” and had to be bypassed anyway.  We had to search an office (we got a lot of stuff, but we left it a mess for when the occupants came back, and they were on to us, which blew our mission).  We got to interrogate someone by remote tv though.  Finally, a simulated helicopter picked us up and took us to “safety,” where we got chewed out by the station chief.  Some parts were hokey, but overall it was fun!  Recommended, especially if you get a good station guide.

Afterwards, it was a train ride out to the end of a Metro line, to be picked up by one of my cousins who I had not seen in 20 years or more.  She and her husband picked us up and took us to her sister’s (also my cousin, obviously) house, where that cousin, her husband, my uncle, and his ex-wife live.  My uncle and my (ex?) aunt, both of whom had since the divorce remarried and then lost their new spouses, primarily live there at my cousin’s request for family cohesion, although everyone seemed to get along pretty well.

Swam and sunned in my cousin’s pool (MFP loves the water), and then talked a lot to my uncle.  He’s a federal judge, still working (and still vigorous, despite some cancer) in his 80s.   The husband of the cousin who picked us up lives on a gluten-free diet, so he gave me a Redbridge, which tasted extra good that day.  Change out of swimsuit in my uncle’s room, which is decorated in grand style, with bound classics (something of a new favorite of my uncle) on the shelves. We eat some guac and dip and other appetizers and talk a lot, and still another cousin (they’re all sisters or half sisters) comes over.  The governor of Maryland’s wife (yes, you read that correctly) comes over for about an hour and was going to stay since her husband was out of town, but her daughter unexpectedly calls to go to a movie and she heads out.   We eat shortly after she leaves, everything grilled by the man of the house, who I later find out in addition to being quite the chef is an accomplished DJ, musician, and music teacher. 

My uncle likes British detective shows, so we watched one on PBS.  It was the perfect low key thing to do.  Afterwards, I played “In Dreams” (from LOTR) on the piano for them (the sheet music was there; one of the kids had it out to practice).  Speaking of kids, MFP hit it off fine with my cousin’s children after an initial bout on their part of being “afraid of the newcomers.”  My cousin, when I had told her we were in Washington, had invited us over to celebrate the 4^th on the 5^th, so they had a fireworks display in the driveway while we sat around in chairs in the dark and watched.  It was nifty.  We bid our byes to my uncle, wish him (and my cousin, who is overseeing his new diet) well in his health challenge, and then get our things.  The original cousin (and her hubbie) who picked us up takes us back to Metro before midnight, where we have a bit of a wait (and my cousin and her husband wait in the car and ensure we get on) and eventually we do.  Then one of the tracks is getting maintenance, so we have to get off, get on a bus, and go to a far off stop and resume.  Along the way, a couple from Georgetown U. (based on his shirt and their conversation) was on the bus right in front of us, with her wearing what had to be close to the legal minimum of clothing,  lol. We reboard another train, get off at our stop, then walk the two blocks to the hotel past the still bustling mixture of club goers, homeless, etc., and head up the elevator. 

My cousin texts me on the way to bed and says that our visit really perked my uncle up.  Sometimes when I think that any of my efforts to make a positive difference in the world come strictly to naught, it’s things like those that remind us that family and personal relationships are where we can often readily make the most difference.