topic Re: Historical Figures in Community Chat

Historical Figures

Marp — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:05:33 GMT

I watched the lead segment of the Rachel Maddow show last night. It is a fascinating history of Winston Churchill's part in forming the "United States of Europe" that ultimately became the EU.

One of the clips of Churchill was from when he was a young man (post WWI or WWII) and it struck me that I've always thought of him as this older statesman never giving a thought to what he looked like as a young man.

This led to the realization that I've also never given thought to what George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin or really any of our early historical figures looked like in their youth.

Am I alone in this narrow view of how our historical figures looked as they grew into their places in history?

Re: Historical Figures

Maudelynn — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:27:51 GMT

I watched the same show and thought the SAME thing! As if WC was always an older man. I don't think we have a lot of visuals for what these historical figures looked like as children.

Re: Historical Figures

Marp — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:34:11 GMT

I am so glad that I am not alone in this.

Re: Historical Figures

Moonchilde — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 13:58:28 GMT

@Maudelynn wrote:
I watched the same show and thought the SAME thing! As if WC was always an older man. I don't think we have a lot of visuals for what these historical figures looked like as children.

If you google "Winston Churchill child" you'll come up with quite a few pictires of young Winston.

Re: Historical Figures

PamfromCT — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:19:57 GMT

I also watched Rachel's show last evening. Fortunately, we had taped her show, and I think it will be watched once more. She has the rare gift of a gifted mind (doctorate from Oxford) and yet the ability to communicate to the average person in meaningful ways, for those who aren't familiar with her. The historical perspective of the EU was most enlightening.

Unfortunately, until the advent of photography, we do not have the opportunity to view what our important historical figures looked like as children. We do have photographs of Lincoln as a younger man, but that's about it, as I know. If some of these figures had been born into families of great wealth, there would have been painted portraits of them as young children and young adults.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we did.

Re: Historical Figures

IamMrsG — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:27:03 GMT

I missed the show you referenced, but find the subject interesting.

George Washington was handsome as a young man. A quick Google came up with this rendering of him at age 19.

It's off topic somewhat, but have you ever seen a photo of young Charlie Chaplin? Wowsa.

Re: Historical Figures

Marp — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:35:26 GMT

@IamMrsG, you can watch the segment (UK roots deep in 'United States of Europe') at http://www.msnbc.com/maddowblog.

I sure learned things I didn't know not only about Churchill but also the foundation leading to the EU.

Re: Historical Figures

IamMrsG — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:36:05 GMT

@Marp wrote:
@IamMrsG, you can watch the segment (UK roots deep in 'United States of Europe') at http://www.msnbc.com/maddowblog.

I sure learned things I didn't know not only about Churchill but also the foundation leading to the EU.

@Marp Thank you!

Re: Historical Figures

candys mine — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 14:42:28 GMT

Funny you should mention Winston Churchill, When I was a kid I got a book from the Scholastic Reader "The Young Winston Churchill" I don't remember a lot of it but I know I liked it.

Re: Historical Figures

JustJazzmom — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 15:53:44 GMT

@Marp Churchill was a good looking chap from the photos on that programme.

Re: Historical Figures

Desertdi — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 17:50:59 GMT

In the days before indoor plumbing, deodorant, washing machines, etc........what they LOOKED like it NOT what I wonder about..................

Re: Historical Figures

JustJazzmom — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 21:33:03 GMT

@Desertdi wrote:
In the days before indoor plumbing, deodorant, washing machines, etc........what they LOOKED like it NOT what I wonder about..................

Don't forget head lice! Many of the people from the American Revolution wore wigs and shaved their heads to prevent those lice from harming them.

Re: Historical Figures

fortune — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 22:24:32 GMT

@Marp wrote:

I watched the lead segment of the Rachel Maddow show last night. It is a fascinating history of Winston Churchill's part in forming the "United States of Europe" that ultimately became the EU.

One of the clips of Churchill was from when he was a young man (post WWI or WWII) and it struck me that I've always thought of him as this older statesman never giving a thought to what he looked like as a young man.

This led to the realization that I've also never given thought to what George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin or really any of our early historical figures looked like in their youth.

Am I alone in this narrow view of how our historical figures looked as they grew into their places in history?

Re: Historical Figures

fortune — Sat, 25 Jun 2016 22:42:57 GMT

Here's our First Lady and the President as children!

Re: Historical Figures

jubilant — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 03:12:57 GMT

No...you are not alone! I hate to admit it though...HA!!!!!!!

I was thinking about how old people looked when they were young the other day......after a visit to the nursing home to see my dad. My Dad, actually was a very good looking man.....vivacious, active, well liked, etc. He was a great golfer and he loved to fish. I was thinking when I was visiting him at the nursing home that I wished some of his aids would realize that this person they are taking care of wasn't always so feeble and was young and vibrant and contributing to others most of his life. Sometimes I still get a little glimpse of that. This old man they are taking care of was young once....just like them....I want them to understand that. For some reason...it is important to me.

I guess we could all do better to remember that about people...famous or otherwise.

Re: Historical Figures

libbyannE — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 03:26:50 GMT

I hope you are in the minority. I love history and always have, so I cannot imagine NOT learning about such people's lives, including their younger years. Churchill's story and the fact that he us half-American is must reading. The two-volume biography of his Amerucan mother, Jenny Jerome, is great reading. Another example: if you only think of George Washington as the old guy on the dollar bill, you are missing so much. His entire life, including his youthful military exploits on the frontier near modern-day Pittsburgh during the French and Indian wars, is amazing stuff. Read, read, read!

Re: Historical Figures

Mominohio — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 04:12:02 GMT

@jubilant wrote:
No...you are not alone! I hate to admit it though...HA!!!!!!!

I was thinking about how old people looked when they were young the other day......after a visit to the nursing home to see my dad. My Dad, actually was a very good looking man.....vivacious, active, well liked, etc. He was a great golfer and he loved to fish. I was thinking when I was visiting him at the nursing home that I wished some of his aids would realize that this person they are taking care of wasn't always so feeble and was young and vibrant and contributing to others most of his life. Sometimes I still get a little glimpse of that. This old man they are taking care of was young once....just like them....I want them to understand that. For some reason...it is important to me.

I guess we could all do better to remember that about people...famous or otherwise.

@jubilant

This is such a heartwarming idea, so simple and so true, yet something I think many of us forget when we see someone in their golden years.

I'm so glad you posted this, and I want to always remember exactly what you said, because you are so right. It is important.

Re: Historical Figures

tansy — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 04:20:39 GMT

@jubilant wrote:
No...you are not alone! I hate to admit it though...HA!!!!!!!

I was thinking about how old people looked when they were young the other day......after a visit to the nursing home to see my dad. My Dad, actually was a very good looking man.....vivacious, active, well liked, etc. He was a great golfer and he loved to fish. I was thinking when I was visiting him at the nursing home that I wished some of his aids would realize that this person they are taking care of wasn't always so feeble and was young and vibrant and contributing to others most of his life. Sometimes I still get a little glimpse of that. This old man they are taking care of was young once....just like them....I want them to understand that. For some reason...it is important to me.

I guess we could all do better to remember that about people...famous or otherwise.

How about having a picture or two of your dad on display? Some nursing homes I've been in have a nice picture of the resident outside of the room -- like a wedding or graduation pic.

Re: Historical Figures

jubilant — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 09:43:03 GMT

This is a good idea, Tansy. Thanks for mentioning it. We have one of Dad and Mom on their 65th Anniversary. Also,we have some family member pictures on the wall...... but not a good one of dad when he was younger. I'm going to dig through some pictures today and do that. I think it will do Dad good to see it, too. I like the idea of a wedding picture (or one when they were dating) and maybe hanging it next to their 65th wedding picture!

Re: Historical Figures

Marp — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 12:46:25 GMT

@jubilant wrote:
No...you are not alone! I hate to admit it though...HA!!!!!!!

I was thinking about how old people looked when they were young the other day......after a visit to the nursing home to see my dad. My Dad, actually was a very good looking man.....vivacious, active, well liked, etc. He was a great golfer and he loved to fish. I was thinking when I was visiting him at the nursing home that I wished some of his aids would realize that this person they are taking care of wasn't always so feeble and was young and vibrant and contributing to others most of his life. Sometimes I still get a little glimpse of that. This old man they are taking care of was young once....just like them....I want them to understand that. For some reason...it is important to me.

I guess we could all do better to remember that about people...famous or otherwise.

This reminded me of something that occurred when I was in my early 30s. I was in the lounge of a restaurant waiting for my table when a couple came in and sat down. I recognized the man immediately which struck me as odd because I had not seen him since I was about six or seven years old. It struck me that the only way I could have recognized him after more than 20 years is the way my child eyes perceived him when I knew him. He had been friend/co-worker of my dad's. That also kind of answered why so many put young adult photos in the obituary of someone in their late 80s+.