Three Photographs

The following is an e-mail I received from a friend, Denis Smith, of Ohio. I asked permission to share it here. A million years ago or so, in Bancroft, West Virginia, Denis was my principal at the very beginning of my thirty-three year career in teaching. I was thrilled to reconnect with Denis via Facebook a few years ago. He is an accomplished educator, a clear writer with a sense of humor and a heart, and a kindred spirit. This post illustrates that last point. I have always loved the second picture of the three below, the tearful Graham Jackson playing his accordion as FDR's funeral train leaves Warm Springs, Georgia. 

The shameful third picture illustrates so clearly the immaturity and cruelty of Donald Trump that I have used it for that purpose several times during the last few years. That disgusting incident is perhaps the most obvious of the many such occasions that should have ended Trump's campaign. 

I had not seen this first picture, but I will not soon forget it. It may take its sad but meaningful place in a gallery that includes the Jackson picture and the photo of toddler John Kennedy Jr. saluting his father's cortege.

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 The recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg brings many memories to mind about her service to the nation. But it was disappointing, yet not surprising, to learn of some of the vicious right-wing comments that have been made as a way to demonize the late jurist and thus lessen her accomplishments as a champion of justice for all, including, of course women, who make up the majority of the population in this country. In the many tributes offered, those who were not familiar with her background learned that for one period of her life, she was an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. And in spite of the shameless attacks on her, fair-minded persons realize that she expanded civil liberties for all in this nation.

When a notable figure dies, there is perhaps a unique photograph that serves as an icon to preserve their memory. Here is my favorite of the moment. 

In 1945, there was another iconic image that stayed in the minds of people who were mourning the passing of another great figure, just as the one above will serve as a vehicle to preserve the memory of Justice Ginsburg.

There is this wonderful story about the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that was retold by Ken Burn and Geoffrey C. Ward in the epic series, The Roosevelts, aired on PBS in 2014:

"In a story about Franklin Roosevelt that has attained the status of a folktale, a man in Washington breaks down on the street when FDR’s casket passes him by. One of his fellow mourners asks if he knew the late president. “No,” the stricken man says, “but he knew me.” 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/09/15/why-none-of-the-roosevelts-could-be-president-today/

Change the masculine pronoun to the feminine form and that's the way I feel about the Notorious RBG. Now she belongs to the ages yet will be in our memory forever.

Tears streamed down the cheeks of accordion-playing Chief Petty Officer (USN) Graham Jackson as President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s flag-draped funeral train left Warm Springs, Ga., April 13, 1945.  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2014/09/15/why-none-of-the-roosevelts-could-be-president-today/

PS - The above link tells the story about some of the personal issues faced by the two Roosevelts. Most of us remember how Donald Trump mocked the appearance of Serge Kovaleski, a New York Times reporter afflicted with a muscle disorder similar to cerebral palsy. I wonder how Trump would have depicted our only physically handicapped president if he lived in the time of FDR? Perhaps these three photos should be remembered between now and Election Day.

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/trump-s-worst-offense-mocking-disabled-reporter-poll-finds-n627736