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In accordance with the proverb that a happy wife, or lady friend, means a happy life, I recently endured the three-hours-and-some-odd-minutes "Titanic" movie.
A number of years back I experienced a similar quest for happiness by enduring "The (will it never end?) Green Mile" movie. While Green Mile was purely entertaining, I found Titanic to be both entertaining and educational.
During the opening statement in which the Titanic was said to be "The ship of dreams, it was, it really was." And the statement, "to see the ruin of the great ship."
I was immediately able to visualize that much of the ruin of this great ship can be applied to the present condition of the United States. The U.S. was once a ship of dreams for citizenry and most of the world, but no, she appears to be foundering as a result of greed and reality.
Just as a collision with an iceberg was not considered a factor in the sinking of the unsinkable, so it would appear that the antics of the government would not be considered a factor in sinking what was thought to be unsinkable.
While it was known and calculated into the impossible equation of a mishap on her maiden voyage, not enough lifeboat space was provided for all passengers and crew.
However, for the unfortunates, life jackets were available. They now had a choice of immediate drowning or slowly freezing to death.
While some people may be able to survive the current economic woes by being in lifeboats, others must survive as best they can by having some type of life jacket. What about the poor and economically disadvantaged folk who don't have an economic lifeboat or life jacket?
The answer to this important question is best shown in a routine by stand-up comedian Bill Cosby. Seems like Noah was very reluctant to undertake building the ark. Every time God bid Noah to do something, Noah has some type of lame excuse for not obeying.
Finally it reached the point where God told Noah to build the ark because it was going to rain and flood the earth. At this point Noah really began to question God. "What's rain? It has never rained before."
In desperation God shouts down to Noah: "Noah! How long can you tread water?"
So all you people who have failed to prepare for hard economic times like we are now experiencing my sage advice to you is, "Learn how to tread water!" Beans and rice will keep you and your family alive.
William P. Clark
Flowery Branch