There she is, towering high, broad and grand, ship of dreams
100 years ago today, a ship hoisted anchor and unfurled her colours to leave Southampton. Hundreds of people gathered to see her off, far more than any other in history, for she was, after all, something special. For one thing she was massive, the largest floating object in the world, a point of pride and a stride forward for the ingenuity of mankind.
Secondly, she was, rumour had it, though the label was never official announced – unsinkable.
From the start, her departure was laden with an air of mixed joviality and concern, could something so huge truly exist? Could it be that we had at long last conquered the waves and harnessed Callisto to our earthly tether?
Four days later, in the wee small hours of a moonless night in the middle of the Atlantic, the world would rock from the answer to those questions. The answer was, of course, as some had always known it would be, an earth-shaking ‘No’.
Questions would fly back and forth in the aftermath that flooded the world after the disaster. Could anyone else have been saved? Why did the great ship not boast enough lifeboats for its contingent of passengers and crew? Why were the passengers never informed of proper procedure in the unlikely event of an emergency? Why did the California not come? Why was there no heed paid to the ice warnings that had come through at least seven times in the course of the evening? Why were the lookouts not provided with binoculars?
Who sir, refused to extend up the bulkheads? YOU SIR to give the first class bigger staterooms! And who undermined the position of Captain? And who took a course too far north for the season??? – Titanic, the Musical ‘The Blame’
Many of the questions would never be answered. And no answer could bring back the dead.
The Titanic has come to represent so much to society, a disaster that has become a social commentary and a multimillion dollar industry. The first part I agree with, the second I’ve never quite been sure where I stand on, but that’s beside the point. She has not been, and never will be, allowed to rest in peace. Her dead do not sleep easy, because we will not let them.
They have, of course, made a huge advertisers dream of the 100th anniversary, some of it has been done respectfully, some has not.
I can’t help but wonder if we are once again tempting fate…
Particularly when I read that the Balmoral – the ship that has been chosen to sail the Grand Memorial Cruise – has already been forced to turn around due to high gales.
When will we ever learn?