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Last evening my wife and I again watched the 1997 movie Titanic.  Most see it as a romantic story of two attractive young people and an exciting tragedy/thriller – which it was; we thoroughly enjoyed it on that level.

The movie can also be viewed as a metaphor for issues we see in our current world of economic crisis:  privilege vs. equality;  manipulative, self-centered, control vs. self-sacrificial, personal commitments;  self preservation vs. compassion for others.

Some arrogantly assumed they were unsinkable and invincible and did not need to make adequate lifeboat provisions for all.  Some were in denial as the ship was sinking and the string quartet played on.  Some shut the gates on the under-privileged who suffered and perished (as bad as our personal experience with the downturn may be, millions of poor people in third world countries are continuing to suffer).  Some focus just on their lost jewels and miss the personal tragedy.

Some also rise to the occasion and rescue others.  Some survive because they are encouraged and/or preserved by hope and perseverance.

Fortunately, our ship is not going to sink into the abyss after all – it will stay afloat!  The economic downturn is a chilling experience for most.  We’re not invincible but we will survive; hopefully we become humbler, wiser and more compassionate as a people after the bail out works.