22-Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was the most important American architect of the 20th Century. His winter headquarters in Phoenix is Taliesin West, His architecture gave structure to the concept of 'compress and release'. If you go to a pro ball game, you are compressed in the tunnel before being released with a view of a manicured, green lawn. He was the first to use indirect lighting. He 'unstacked' the boxes of European class-conscious living. The democratic American spirit required a more open, free-flowing domesticate floor plan.
Late in his career he was required to give testimony in court. When asked his name and profession he replied, "I am Frank Lloyd Wright. I am the greatest architect in America". That night his wife scolded him, "Why do you say those things?" "Dear," he replied, "I couldn't help it. They put me under oath".

21-Rough Riders Statue, Prescott AZ

Rough Rider statue outside Prescott, AZ, courthouse.  Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders fought in Cuba, that "splendid little war".  The territorial gains were fleeting.  The real gains, for good and evil, involved increasing American prestige among existing world powers.  The Rough Riders were a combination of polo playing Harvard grads and western cowboys, led by a person who understood the character of both!

20-Copius Guilt?

     Today's reflection comes from the two places I visited on London's south bank; the Imperial War Museum and the Tate Modern, plus a little personal experience.  The subject is violence: when is it necessary, when is it voluntarily.

   The Imperial War Museum had display cases galore filled with Victoria Crosses (like Medals of Honor), every one of them extending violence. Did all that violence have to be extended?  Probably not!  When the Twin Towers came down and America counter-punched in Afghanistan, was that necessary?  I believe so. 
      We had more options in Iraq and Vietnam.  Violence was more voluntarily, the decorations still piled up.  Which brings me to the Tate Modern.

     There are two visions of Vietnamese youth I would like to offer.  One is the scared youth in the mural.  I'm sure there were some, but not many.  They were just too smart!  Sure, they had to choose sides (Yankees or Ho).  And some got caught up in re-education camps when they couldn't flee.  The mural is trys to make a "Scream", Vietnamese-style.

     It just doesn't work!  So I give a second vision.  We had a student from  Hanoi stay with us for a year.  He studied a fifth year in high school while he scholarshipped for an American college.  He found one, stuck around for a masters and was last heard of wheeling and dealing in Hong Kong.  

     If the first vision is true, it leads to copious amounts of guilt across our fruited plains.  If the second version is true, then we are still helping reshape that proud country toward liberty and freedom.  

     Sometimes violence is mandatory, sometimes it is voluntarily.  But if the lions lay down with the lambs too quickly, it's another case of lamb chops for dinner!

     

   

19-Soap Bubbles

     Welcome to Trafalgar Square!  Trafalgar is the 1804 sea battle that confirmed Britain would rule the waves for another century.  Napoleon got a few toes chopped off when he tried to wade into the Atlantic.  All very civilized, save the fact that Admiral Nelson did not come back alive; but his press agent had a field day!

     Speaking of the good Admiral, there he is over my right shoulder.  I believe that is the greatest phallic symbol this side of the pond.  But I digress.  I came to Trafalgar Square to be swayed and influenced by paintings in the National Gallery.  I spent a full day getting through about 3/4 of the collection.  When I finally came out, I saw this:  

 

     Now I have to ask myself, "Is that influence, is that sway going to stand for years and years like the good Admiral over my shoulder?  Or is it like so many soap bubbles, tickled to see, fun to pop?

     I have no idea!

     

18-Independent Contractors?

Cafe Du Monde is a New Orleans institution. They are nestled on the edge of the French Quarter with their back to the Mississippi. Famed world-over for their 'beignets' (French donuts). They are good! They are yummy!! We have had some wonderful food on this trip. Nothing beats a beignet!
All the servers are Vietnamese. All the managers are not. The servers have to fill an order and buy each purchase before they serve it to the customer. That's right! They buy each individual beignet before you get served!!
Do I applaud the system for showing initiative? Are the servers "independent contractors" so management does not have to pay benefits? I was here a year and a half ago. The work force was mainly black. What happened? Were the blacks out hustled? Can I even ask the question without being called a racist?
I am not close enough to the situation to form an opinion, but the questions still are tantalizing!

17-Grand Theft Joy

When a journey takes its final steps on New Orleans' Bourbon Street, the odyssey must be called successful. Nothing is as it seems on Bourbon Street. Men can appear as small yellow cars. Sweet young girls can be brazen in their nudity. All outdoors is joyously endowed with a fragrance of day-old beer.
There is no better portal to the 21st Century than Bourbon Street. I came through it a couple of hours ago. It reminded me there is no problem, historic or current, so large, so intimidating, that it can steal our joy, our confidence and our sense of humor.

16-Oversized Eating Utensils

Oak Alley was a very special plantation. Our paddle wheel tied up at the levee and we came down the gangway in awe! The most fantastic scene emerged with twelve Virginia Oaks on the right, twelve on the left. They stood as sentinels leading us up to the main house. It was breathtaking!
This is a Cajun plantation. Built below Baton Rouge, it's Catholic owners grew sugarcane. Above Baton Rouge, the Scottish Protestant owners grew cotton. Cajun owners were small, barely 5'4". Women were under 5'. But they had oversized eating utensils. That was how they announced their prosperity to the neighborhood.
I was intrigued by a mirror at one end of the parlor. It was a fish-eye, any seat in the room saw the entire room. It's name...the Chaperone Mirror!