Saturday will mark 100 years since the RMS Titanic sank in the icy waters of the Atlantic. On its maiden voyage from Southampton, England to New York City, the "unsinkable" ship hit an iceberg and sank, killing over 1,500 passengers and crew members. Apparently the 3D movie arrived just in time.
Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts has sponsored The R.M.S. Titanic Maritime Memorial Preservation Act, which would impose heavy penalties of fines of $250,000 a day and five years in prison for an American or U.S. ship that disturbs the rubble without authorization or removes items from the scene. Senator Kerry said, "It's important to remember that this site on the floor of the Atlantic is a place where so many went to their deaths.''
While it seems this act only applies to Americans at this time, legislation is working to set up penalties relating to foreigners as well. In 1986, shortly after the wreckage was discovered off the coast of Newfoundland, President Ronald Reagan passed a bill to make the site an "international maritime memorial."
Common courtesy for the people who lost their lives in that tragedy tells you that you just shouldn't be out there grave-robbing. That's just rude and disrespectful. The government would not have to be passing laws about this if people weren't so filled with greed and lacking morals. Scientific exploration and recovering of artifacts is beneficial to everyone. It is still a piece of history and should be exhibited to some extent. However, don't the members of the government have some more pressing issues to be dealing with right now? Lack of jobs, national debt of over $15 trillion, and sky-rocketing gas prices seem to be currently more pressing matters. Not to say that this issue isn't extremely important to the survival of this country.
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