2006

Politics, at least as the expression is commonly understood, i.e., partisan Republican, Democrat, Labour, Tory, Progressive Conservative, Liberal etc. is not a subject The Titanic Commutator normally explores. However, it is naive to think that politics in broad terms is not at the bottom of many of the topics covered because the incentive for people to act is motivated by a philosophy, person or event––and history is written by the winners. For the majority, contemporary politics is a turn-off because debate has become all heat and no light––just nasty and personal. And, in this vein Dr. Ballard’s reply to a number of allegations is published in full, because circumstances over the past year reached the point of casting aspersions rather than simply being a different point of view.

An exclusive for The Commutator, Simon Mills describes a breakthrough theory, “More Questions Than Answers” about “Titanic’s Final Moments” from the August 2005 History Channel’s innovative search about the breakup of Titanic including structural illustrations by Ken Marschall.

Sam Halpern’s report, “A Moment in Time” concluding in this edition, notes that time variations, in other words, who did what, where, why and how history recorded them during the Titanic disaster, make a huge difference.

Sea Poste follows up on Dr. Ballard and the news media’s misinterpretation connecting him with the History Channel program, plus a mystery sculpture of a possible Titanic passenger for readers to identify among several inquiries.

Contents in this Issue

More Questions Than Answers: Titanic’s Final Moments, The History Channel 2005 expedition by Simon Mills.

Editorial – Dr. Ballard.

A Titanic Tract, Dr. Robert D. Ballard’s positions on a series of controversial questions.

Sea Poste: Topics include: A New Find Sheds Some Light on Titanic’s Final Moments: Associated Press story on Dr. Ballard; The Titanic’s Demise: New York Times editorial mischaracterizing Dr. Ballard; Dr. Ballard’s response to THS members what he thinks about the misunderstanding; A Mystery Titanic Passenger?; Where was THS’s replacement Titanic plaque placed?; Theory on minimizing damage by reversing Titanic’s momentum after hitting the iceberg.

A Moment in Time by Sam Halpern, Part 2, conclusion.

Front cover: An illustration by the French artist E. Louis Lessieux depicting elegance and luxury on La Provence as passengers descend the Grand Escalier (grand staircase). THS’s annual conventions recreates the ambience of the great liners. This year’s theme is “Titanic in First-, Second- and Third Class” to be held on October 6, 7, and 8. Karen Kamuda collection.