Archives
 By  Staff Reports Published 
10:19 pm Sunday, November 25, 2007

History repeating itself

By By Melissa Cason
It's been a decade since the blockbuster movie "Titanic" opened in theaters and became the highest grossing movie of all time, passing Star Wars.
I know that Jimmy and I watched the movie in theaters at least three times, and once it hit home video in September 1998, I made sure our home had a copy of the movie. I even pop it in the VCR occasionally when there is nothing on the tube and I have three hours to kill.
When I heard the story of the cruise passengers being rescued from lifeboats in sub-zero temperatures Thursday night after their ship struck an iceberg in the Antarctic Ocean, I couldn't help but think about how strange it is that history often repeats itself-maybe not with the exact course of events but in similar circumstances.
I feel like the events Thursday night were a repeat of the Titanic disaster on a smaller scale with a happier ending.
After hearing the story, I was thankful that we all learned from history.
We might not can keep disaster from striking but we can learn how to deal with it better.
I know many of us complained during history classes or decided that it would be an appropriate time to nap. But, learning about the past is extremely important.
I am thankful that our teachers forced us to learn it by making history lessons interesting.
There is no doubt that the Titanic story helped keep the 150 passengers and crew members aboard the ship alive because of what was learned from our past, and it is certain that proper protocol was followed to ensure passenger safety this time around.
I know that technological advancements were also a major contributing factor in the passengers being rescued from the freezing waters quickly.
Lessons were obviously learned and procedures were developed to ensure safety to provide a positive outcome.
I know all of the 150 people on board are thankful that lessons were learned from the past.

Also on Franklin County Times
Heat advisory for the Shoals starts Wednesday afternoon
Z - News Main
By Kevin Taylor For the Franklin County Times 
August 11, 2026
FLORENCE — The Tennessee Valley Area, including the Shoals, will be under a heat advisory starting at 1 p.m. Wednesday through 7 p.m. Friday. Heat ind...
Russellville business burning off propane
News, Russellville
Griffin Traylor 
August 10, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Suburban Propane, which is located at the intersection of Alabama Highway 24 and U.S. Highway 43, is in the process of burning off prop...
Successful paving plan draws Florence’s interest
Main, News, Russellville, ...
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Pondering whether Florenceshouldestablish its own paving department, officials only had to look about 20 miles south to see the benefit...
Mills named principal at West Elementary
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Gayla Mills is beginning her 31st year in education and her first as West Elementary’s principal. Mills taught third grade when that gr...
Disciplinary point system gets ‘amped up’
Main, News, Russellville
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — As Alabama students head back to school, there is a new incentive for staying out of trouble. This school year, school disciplinary pro...
Wright is new RES principal
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
August 5, 2026
RUSSELLVILLE — Channing Wright, former Russellville Elementary assistant principal, will begin the new school year in a new role, that of principal. N...
Motorists reminded of bus safety rules
Franklin County, News
By Ella Seaton For the FCT 
August 5, 2026
As school buses begin returning to roads across northwest Alabama this week, transportation officials remind parents, students and motorists the impor...
Data center moratoriums are right for Alabama
Columnists, News, Opinion
August 5, 2026
Apparently, asking questions and raising community concerns now makes you a socialist. At least that’s what you’d believe if you listened to some of t...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *