The Grand Staircase Of The Titanic, Before And After

 One of the most impressive features of the RMS Titanic and her sister ship the RMS Olympic was the Grand Staircase, located in the forward part of the ship. This ornate stairwell connected the first-class decks with public rooms. No photographs of the Titanic's Grand Staircase are known to exist, and photos such as this one use the extremely similar Olympic staircase to give us an impression of the Titanic's.

Here's how the Grand Staircases of the Titanic and Olympic were described in a promotional brochure of the time:

A STRIKING INTRODUCTION to the wonders and beauty of these vessels is the Entrance Hall and Grand Staircase in the forward section where one begins to realize for the first time the magnificence of these surpassing steamers. The Grand Staircase, sixteen feet wide, extends over sixty feet and serves seven decks, five of which are also reached by the Three Electric Passenger Elevators. It is modeled closely after the style so prevalent during the reign of William and Mary, except that instead of the usual heavily-carved balustrade, a light wrought-iron grille has been employed, a fashion found in a few of the most exclusive great houses of that period. The Entrance Hall and Grand Staircase are surmounted by a glass dome of great splendor, a fitting crown as it were to these the largest and finest steamers in all the world.

A Sicilian farmer showing to an American soldier where the Germans retreated, August 1943

 During World War II no one liked the Germans (no surprises there), but people of Italy seriously hated the fact that Nazis were occupying their countryside. Even though Italian fascists once supported Germany, but by 1943 Mussolini’s former chief of staff, Gen. Pietro Badoglio was over it. He was in the middle of negotiating a conditional surrender with General Eisenhower and setting up a new Italian government.

Even with the help of the Italian people it wasn’t easy to get through their country to recapture Rome from the Germans. There was bad weather, and on top of that the Allies began their operation so far south that they had to cover most of the country on foot.

Eventually, the Allied troops took Rome and helped bring Italy out of his life of fascism.

Oldest photo of a tornado, 1884

 This is truly a sight to behold. Taking photos of tornadoes is somewhat common place today, and it has been since the late 20th century as daredevils and thrill seekers throw themselves into harm’s way to get a great shot. On top of that, thanks to modern photography technology it’s easier to get a clear photo of a tornado without fear of getting hurt.

That wasn’t the case in 1884. There were no technologically advanced zooms or digital wizardry to help a photographer get the perfect shot. In the late 19th century a person with a camera had to know exactly what they were doing while focusing on the light and the elements.

With that photographic acumen, a photographer was able to snap this shot that shows a twisting tornado in all of its eerie glory.

Russian survivor liberated by the U.S. Army in Buchenwald camp in Germany identified a former guard from SS who was brutally beating prisoners. Taken on June 5, 1945

 Following the end of World War 2 there was extreme chaos in Europe. Not only because of the major restructuring that occurred following the crashing of the Axis, but also because of the release of prisoners for Nazi concentration camps.

Many of the survivors took it upon themselves to seek out their tormentors and bring them to justice. At the time it wasn’t like there was a computer database of everyone who worked in a concentration camp, and unless someone was caught working in a camp they could pretend that they were somewhere else during the war.

Many former soldiers attempted to lie their way around a war crimes accusation, but the memories of concentration camp survivors are long and they crave justice.

German prisoners of war in an American camp, photographed as they’re forced to watch a film about the German concentration camps, 1945

 It’s unclear how many members of the German military knew what was happening in the Nazi concentration camps, but many of the men who were captured by Allied forces claimed that they had no knowledge of what was going on in places like Auschwitz.

When confronted with the truth about what their country was doing to the Jewish people (as well as travelers, people of color, and homosexuals) many of them couldn’t fathom the depths of evil they’d spent their careers serving.

German POWs were made to watch films of the concentration camps, forever scarring them with the knowledge that they were a cog in a truly disgusting machine.

A black woman watches as robed Klansmen walk in downtown Montgomery, Alabama, prior to a cross burning rally that night, November 24, 1956

 

How horrible this must have been for this woman to witness. In the 1950s the south was a hot bed of racist activity, but Alabama was an especially difficult place to be for people of color.

At the time Klan members were open about their membership to such a gross group, and did everything they could to terrorize anyone who wasn’t a white man. It’s so upsetting to think about the ways they oppressed people simply by existing.

Even though the Civil Rights movement brought an end to the Jim Crowe south, racism will always be a sad part of life.

American troops on board a landing craft heading for the beaches at Oran in Algeria during Operation 'Torch,' November 1942

 Even though these brave men are floating into an uncertain future it’s clear that they’re in high spirits. Operation Torch was a plan to draw Axis forces away from the Eastern Front in order to give the members of the Soviet army a break from battling the Axis.

At the time the British didn’t want Americans to land in Europe, they thought it would be disastrous for the war to do so in such early stages. The members of the Allies compromised and the Americans landed in Northern Africa.

Thanks to Operation Torch American and British forces finally had the offensive following three years of German and Italian forces dictating the tempo of events.

Look closer, the sign reads: WEAR A MASK OR GO TO JAIL. Spanish flu, California 1918...

In 1918, a horrific pandemic spread across the world. It affected the respiratory functions of everyone who caught it and could be spread through particles in the air - no one was safe. Sound familiar?

This colorized photo looks as if it could be taken today, from the masks down to the shoes - maybe not the hats. As frightening as these uncertain times can be, it’s comforting to know that our ancestors have been through it all before and survived. If they could do it then we can do it to.

During the pandemic of 1918 and 1919 people were asked to wear masks and keep away from one another as it was the only way to insure safety. That being said, there were plenty of people who ignored this rule - some of them even ended up in prison.

8/14/2022

8/14/2022 - This hymn was our entrance him at church this morning. It was very comforting to me. The verse "Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed! For I am thy God, and will still give thee aide; I'll strengthen thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. This Verse struck home for me and what I have going on in my life right now.

 

8/14/2022 - Todays gospel according to Luke12:49-56 is the only place to my knowledge in the Gospels where Jesus admits he could cause adversity. From reading this gospel and listening to Rev. Patsy Barhams sermon I derived that Jesus is warning us that there will be division among people about his teachings. Patsy sited Matthew which I am so glad she did. (See the next post)

Rev. Patsy G. Barham sited Matthew 10:34-39 this morning during her sermon. I am glad she did. Although I think Patsy was dissuaded from using Matthews version because he discusses a sword. (Patsy G. Barham has always been a peacemaker since I met her when I was in the first grade.) Matthew does say that Christ stated "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword of division between belief and unbelief." which for me is in a context that I understand a bit better.

8/14/2022

My epiphany on this morning’s sermon. The gospel was taken from Luke 12:49-56. It is the only place in the gospels that I know that Jesus sews division. I personally do not think Luke did a good job putting what Jesus was saying into an understandable context. Rev Patsy Barham did site Matthew 10: 34-39 which I think puts the idea into better context. I think you must read on in Matthew to verses 10:40-42,

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,

a daughter against her mother,

a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—

36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’[c]

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

One can interpret this verse to mean that Christ brings a sword to divide those who believe and those that do not. Rev. Barham went on to state in her sermon that when she was growing up that one held Sunday in special reverence, they did their chores on Saturday so that Sunday could be used to share the message of Christ with not only their church members, but their families. She went on to say that today’s society has gotten away from holding Sunday in reverence to God.

My Epiphany from all this was that we as Christians have gotten away from reverencing our faith or defending our beliefs. One goes on platforms like Facebook and sees others expressing their ideas that Christianity is a cult, or a radical sect. Christianity like any religion is only as radical as you choose to make it. I have many friends that speak of taking pride in who they are and what they stand for, but only in very few do I see them taking pride in their belief in God. Most of my Gay brothers and sisters have allowed organized religion to detract from their personal beliefs. They will become very militant in their views on Pride, and acceptance, but have allowed Religions that do not accept them to move them away from God. I don’t feel that is how it works. Even Gay Christians are responsible for finding God. There is such a thing as a “Gay Christian” being Gay only defines one part of who you are. Your belief in God defines another. It IS POSSIBLE to be both. Your relationship with God is YOUR relationship with God. Your upbringing does play a part in your relationship with God, But I see most of my Gay brothers and Sisters demand that others keep an open mind to their lifestyles, but then I also see them close their minds to God because organized religion does not acknowledge or accept their lifestyles.

I will no longer do that. If Christ was sent as Matthew 10:34-42 says to divide families, then I say here and now I will submit to this sword. While I respect “EVERYONES” views and their beliefs I will no long not express my views on being a Christian. I am a follower of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I do not need an organized religion to tell me if I am right or wrong. GOD KNOWS if I am right or wrong. I need no human to tell me anything else. The longer I have lived the more I have learned that my God is “MY GOD”! From this day forward I choose to stand up for myself, and my Christian beliefs. IF you respect me as I respect you this should not be a problem. However, if you have a problem with my beliefs then I invite you to unfollow me like you have unfollowed other things and peoples you don’t believe or trust. I choose to put my Trust in the teachings of Jesus Christ.

I Love You All,

Chris McLaughlin See less

Lincoln MKZ Hybrid ~ Isn't this a lovely car?

 My Dad bought me this car for helping him through the times he suffered through the recovery of his injuries from his fall. I adore driving it.