National Emblem

All Americans know that the magnificent bald eagle is a national emblem. A few of us know that it just barely won the contest. The much-respected Benjamin Franklin argued that our national bird should be the turkey. It's a good thing he lost the debate. Images of turkeys would be much less impressive on warplanes and tanks.                     

Let's Ease Into This

I spent hours on Sunday shooting the Pride Parade, the most colorful photo op of the year in The Lou. The mood was exceptionally exuberant in light of last week's Supreme Court decision. There were some people who were really out there.

Easier to get into this gradually. Someone was standing on the sidelines holding the world's calmest raptor on one of those big leather gloves. Of course, it is an American symbol of freedom.

By the way, note the bird's eye in the second photo. Does anyone know if they have some kind of odd ocular membrane?                        

Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day in the United States, when we honor the men and women who served in our military forces. The occasion is taken very seriously these days. It's common to hear civilians saying "thank you for your service" to uniformed personnel. However, people of my age remember the scorn and derision heaped on veterans returning from the Vietnam War. Times change. Attitudes change.

The annual parade in STL takes place on the Saturday before the event. There are usually more people marching down the street than observers on the sidewalk. One of this year's features was a bald eagle, the quintessential American symbol, held by a staff member of the St. Louis Wild Bird Sanctuary.                            

Peace and Vigilance: Detail

It's hard to get a good overview of Peace and Vigilance with Eagle, featured yesterday. It's big, it's above eye level and it's indoors. The details show more of the art.

Vigilance is on the ball. She is alert, scanning the horizon. Her posture is relaxed but a sword is ready in her right hand. Peace, on the other hand, is harder to interpret. She holds an olive branch in her left hand (I don't know if the lefty olive has a meaning) but, frankly, she looks depressed rather than peaceful. Maybe her lover left, her dog died and, as the old Commander Cody song has it, she's down to seeds and stems again, too.

The eagle shrieks over the whole scene. Vigilance might appreciate the scouting help but how is Peace going to get any, well, peace with that screaming bird over her head? Maybe that's why she's depressed.

TOMORROW: Treatment for couples with, um, a difficulty.