Commentary
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
A republic.
It’s what the United States was built upon. It shaped the founding of this country, and has been the template for how our country has been governed for nearly 250 years now. And yet, as I look around today, I can’t help but feel that it’s in danger.
As a medical student, I went with some of my classmates to see the 1997 movie “Titanic.” I wasn’t very interested in the movie when it first came out, but so many of my friends told me how great it was that I decided to go see it. It was indeed a riveting movie, and it went on to become one of the biggest box office hits of all time.
While pondering the state of our country recently, this movie flashed through my mind. It dawned on me that there seem to be some unfortunate similarities between this grand, sinking ship and that of our own United States of America.
Glorious Beginnings
Unsinkable. Indestructible. These were the words used to describe this Ship of Dreams, the majestic Titanic, named for the Titan of Greek mythology. Chief architect Thomas Andrews and his team spent months laboriously and meticulously planning out the grand ship’s design. Many strong and brave men went on to build the ship, pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into it, with some even losing their lives in the process. And everyone wanted to be on it, to be a part of it.
Those who boarded her felt a great sense of pride and good fortune. There was a feeling of both joy and freedom in the air at being on the open seas on such a magnificent vessel. But this big, beautiful ship that everyone so firmly believed to be indestructible, that people knew to be unsinkable, in the end, indeed met her demise. But how did it happen? How could something that was so strong and well-planned sink?
