Sunday 8 January 2012

Raiding SS Titanic

I suppose that any human remains in this sea grave have long since been consumed and dispersed by the ocean. Something similar could be said of many graves on land or at sea but we do not disturb them. As Shakespeare had inscribed on his tomb:

"Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare,
To digg the dust encloased heare,
Blest be the man that spares thes stones,
And curst be he that moves my bones."

However, it seems that, where a cash profit is in view, mankind will still even stoop to grave robbery to turn a few coins. The New York auction of artefacts from the Titanic will include a lifejacket which it is claimed was actually worn by a victim, a menu and a folding deck chair. What sickening sort of people would trade in such things and what does it all say about 'western civilization'? No wonder, when asked what he thought about 'western civilization', Ghandi replied "I think that it would be a good idea."

2 comments:

  1. I see it as sort of accidental grave, in that people did not crowd around it to say goodbye and it wasn't sanctified - if that's the right word. I suppose it depends on how folk see the artefacts, will they treat it with reverence or as a talking piece or something to barter? The commercialisation of it is the bugbear.

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  2. Tabitha - Yes, I agree: it's the profiteering from it that sticks in one's craw and, I think, regardless of any reverence from the purchasers:
    "I often think that never blows so red
    The rose as where some buried Caesar bled." And there were spirits as great as any Caesar on that ship.

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