Well said, Dobrien.

Thank you for the link. The composition is beautiful and the artwork in the video is stunning and appropriate. When one thinks of Dire Straights, songs like "Money For Nothing" and "Walk of Life" spring to mind, but songs like "My Brothers in Arms" illustrate the breadth of talent in this band.

Also, thanks for the compliment as I always took care of my uniforms and appearance whether I was portraying Union or Confederate. Part of a proper portrayal of those who came before us is to understand who they were as individuals. The officers of that time were disciplined and trained at West Point, VMI, or other military school. Personal grooming was part of that discipline and was maintained throughout their career regardless of the circumstances they found themselves in. I maintained that as best I could in my re-creation of who they were. I lived in a canvass tent during all my events, sometimes for a week at a time. Regardless of weather (good, rain, heat, snow) I would get up early to wash up outside the tent, shave cheeks and neck with a civil war era blacksmith made straight razor, clean my boots and leathers, brush any dirt or dust off my coat and trousers, and clean any brass that needed it. Then I was ready for the day. When in command, the officers under me saw what I was doing and began doing the same. We were sharp! LOL!

Would love to see the photos

I am impressed! Two or three socio-demographic levels above my experience.
The idea is that the family is the building block, other memberships are essential but basic values are taught at home. The trend now is for the family to be transient, a place where a TV is always on, and with a bit of luck some food is in the frig, not much else. Neither values nor skills are taught in that family, nor even at school. Membership and identity are provided by gangs, good leadership and values can be in the gang, but unusual. At a certain point, a nation like that can only disintegrate, or, it can survive but with rigid stratification, like in '1984'.

The photo, more rambling-
The man is in the prestige chair and power position, but I bet the woman runs the household, the man only makes the big important decisions. In a well run household there are no big decisions.
it is evocative, a reminder of a time when there was security as well as avenues for improvement with the right encouragement. It existed for some, for others it did not exist but they knew what it was, they could strive for it.

Thought it looked familiar.

Got a pic of My Dad's Mom and Dad. Sadly, never met them. Both immigrated from Sweden.
Will send to you some day.

You are sharp as a tack. I knew this about you from your image volunteering as a officer , civil war era. Pride in appearance project competency.
Yes Sir. My brothers in Arms...https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&h...

Great grandpa the cop.My dads family in the other photo.

The old Jim Crow worked because black people bought into it until Rosa Parks stood and said "NO MORE!". The new Jim Crow will continue to work until a white Rosa Parks screams, "NO MORE!".

That photo reminded me of my own family, Dobrien. We didn't have any maids, either.

I'd say the scene is not necessarily mythical in function. My family gathered like this in the '50s and '60s to watch TV or eat at the table together or other functions while I was in my youth. I insisted the same for my kids when they were younger. My aunts, uncles, and their families did much the same in that era. The only thing I notice is the clothing, but it is quite usual to dress "properly" when a family photo shoot is taking place. The younger generations seem to have let this go. Too bad.

Well, the ELITE ON THE STREET anyway.

The rulelessers?...definitely a different species!

That's your grandpa, right?
Millie is spot on....

I had one with 3 different colored chicken eggs looking exactly the same in the frying pan...but I lost it.

MLK had it right when he said you judge people on the content of their character. Not the color of their skin.

He never said not to judge people.

Thanks for sharing. N

Yes , we all are people and no one chooses who their ancestors are.

ThanQ Lucky for your response. That photo is my Grandfather and Grandmother with my Aunts and Uncles. My Dad is the little boy on the floor. It was taken in their living room upstairs from the funeral home they owned in St Paul , Mn.circa 1938.
No maid in the kitchen though.

I won't tell my story, suffice it to say, you would have got your ears boxed and sent to your room, if mama or daddy heard anything remotely racist come out of your mouth. N

there is but one race of people on this ball of dirt and rock

sane people call them Humans

insane people divide them into groups so they can claim some level of power over those groups
power thy should NEVER be allowed to have

Back in the day.
The family in the drawing room.

Nothing like my family, there were one or two households in my acquaintance who could some of the time been like that.
This pic would have portrayed a small fraction of the population, and still unrealistic, and still important.

The scene is mythical but shows an ideal-
all the family together, not for some ceremony or pose but it was what families did,
at leisure, father reading the newspaper, mother knitting, I suppose the maid is in the kitchen getting dinner,
all so neatly dressed, clean looking and hair tidy, father in a suit.

Order, tranquility, relationships-
- Different groups do this in ways that suit
- Important, no racial test for this
- Necessary but not sufficient for civilization.