Fearless, unflinching, heroic.
And yet, also defined as audacious, meaning presumptuous or insolent.
We've learned the fate of the crew of the Titan - a catastrophic event that ended their lives in an instant. No suffering. No time to reflect on their journey. Several had traveled the slow spiral to the depths before. They were ready for the darkness, the silence, the cold. What did they want to see again so badly? What else was there to learn peering at the past through layers of thick glass? Did they travel with the newcomers just to share the exhilaration of seeing the bow of the mighty ship illuminated from the darkness? Whatever it was, they knew the risks and decided it was worth it.
What about the ones who had never experienced the descent? What did that father and son want so badly to see? We may never know what it was they sought, but the experts generally agree there was no thrill as the Titanic's bow rose from the depths, no feeling of peace as they drifted over the resting place of those who traveled on the "unsinkable" ship, and no sigh of relief as they broke the surface on their return from the depths. They too will rest with those who went in search of something all those years ago.
What is it that drives humanity to seek the unknown? The leader of this voyage was intent on taking others to the depths. He believed it would save our oceans. He said he wanted deep-sea travel to be common, safe and economical. Yet, he was also quoted as saying he wanted as many visitors beneath the waves as there are tourists above. Would that have helped? Would what they might witness give the same thrill if there were hundreds of others visitors hovering about, dashing here and there, hurrying to see something new?
Perhaps. But how many places are left that mankind hasn't explored? Or is the word, exploited?
Not many.
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