10-jod-Titanic:

The Titanic sank because of pilot error...unheeded warnings...blind faith in science and gold...and man. She collided with God's iceburg on Sunday evening on April the 14 th, within minutes of midnight. And she sank about 2 and 1/2 hours later, taking over 2/3 of her total passengers (2224) with her. This was the greatest sea-going disaster of all time. "Since April 1912, her name has become a metaphor for many things. Her sinking on her maiden voyage probably would not have spurred such ongoing interest and fascination throughout the years had she not been launched with everyone--from the most seasoned commander to the lowliest third-class passenger--believing the Titanic quite simply could not sink. Tempting fate has never had such dire and profoundly far-reaching results. But the continuing interest in the Titanic is more than a detached, clinical assessment of the symbolic significance of her planning, construction, sailing, and death. The drama and irresistible appeal of the Titanic's story results from a myriad blend of emotionally powerful, interconnected elements that include the social arrogance and strict, discriminatory class structure of the times; the optimism and hopes of the hundreds of emigrating steerage passengers headed to America; the unparalleled luxuriousness and unprecedented grandness of the ship; and the chain of fatal misjudgments that ultimately doomed the Titanic and over 1,500 of her passengers--ranging from too few lifeboats to the wrong order being given after hitting the iceberg...The Titanic sinking is a historical event so primal, so visceral, and so horrible that it soon becomes obvious to the chronicler of such and event that language has not yet evolved to the point where words can truly convey the tragic essence of the disaster...In 1997, James Cameron's epic film Titanic, seemingly overnight, transformed a subject of interest to some into a phenomenon of interest to millions. Within days after the film's opening, Titanic fever raged through the popular culture of the planet."(thus does Stephen J. Spignesi begin 'The CompleteTitanic' book).

The entire world is still astonished and fascinated by the sinking of the unsinkable on her maiden voyage from England to New York. She rested in peace on the ocean floor until September 1, 1985 and then she became the subject of, most probably, the most successful movie ever made; which was released December 19, 1997. Now, she is in the process of being rebuilt ( a 500 million dollar replica by a U.S. Swiss Co.) to sail again on another maiden voyage to reach the exact site of the previous disaster at the exact time (also on Sunday) at midnight on the evening of April 14 th, in the year 2002. Three other lesser replicas are also being planned and produced ( one to be completed on Dec. 29, 1999). Gold and silver and diamonds and fine linen and silk and 76 cases of dragons blood and rich and poor and vessels made of ivory and servants and fruits and dainties and craftsmen and musicians and many new brides and the new electric lights and great men and luxuries and smokestacks were thrown down head first 2 and 1/2 miles beneath the sea. And the world wondered, but repented not. The eight heroic musicians sank with the ship, for as the Titanic rose for the fatal dive, they continued upon the deck with their rendition of "Nearer My God To Thee" (even though it be a cross that raiseth me...or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky, Sun, Moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly; still all my song shall be...nearer my God, to thee, nearer to thee). If you do not learn from history you are doomed to repeat the same failures...and the captain said clear and calm...and now, our captains say 'peace and safety'...and sudden destruction cometh (2224 - 2002 = 222).