One Nation, Invincible
Last evening my wife and I again watched the 1997 movie Titanic. Â 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:Â privilege vs. equality;Â manipulative, self-centered, control vs. self-sacrificial, personal commitments;Â 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. Â Some were in denial as the ship was sinking and the string quartet played on. Â 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). Â 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.
