If You Were the Captain of the Titanic - Article Example

the Captain realized that women and children are the most vulnerable groups yet the most important in society. This is because, during those times, women in particular were important in contributing to the growth of a society or generation in terms of population. He had the wisdom to know that by saving the most vulnerable and important group first, he was indeed saving the entire society and generation. The second is sympathy. This refers to the concern for the welfare and well-being of others. In this case, by letting women and children to the lifeboat first, the captain showed that he was concerned about the welfare of this group. As noted above, women and children are most vulnerable and therefore must have been suffering the most during the tragedy. Thirdly, the captain demonstrated the value of sacrifice. This is defined as the ability to surrender something for the sake of others. The captain, being human, was willing and ready to sacrifice his life for the sake of others. It is obvious under such circumstances, the captain wanted to save his life, but he decided to give this chance to other people. Finally, he demonstrated rationality. This is the quality of a person to be guided by reason and facts. Although there were many people on that ship, the captain’s decision to let women and children on the lifeboat first was based on his assessment of the situation. His actions demonstrate that he was conscious and aware of his surroundings and the prevailing circumstances.

In my view, the Captain was right in taking this step. This is because, at the time, the size of the population played a critical role in the growth of a society. The captain realized that by saving women and children, he was saving the future of the entire society. Furthermore, the captain was wise enough to know that naturally, women and children are weak, especially in the event of disasters. Therefore, by saving this group first, the chances of having more people rescued increased. Based on the prevailing circumstances and the historical context, the captain made the right decision. I however find that the approach used by the captain cannot be applied today.

If I was the captain today and faced with a similar disaster, my approach would be different. First, I will let those who have been wounded onto the lifeboat first. It is likely that in event of such a disaster, people will be wounded and would require immediate medical attention. This will not be based on the age or sex of the victims. Secondly, I will allow the elderly, the pregnant, children, and the disabled to get to the lifeboat next. Finally, the remaining group can then be allowed to get to the lifeboat. Here, I have used the same example of a lifeboat, but this could mean any rescue vessel or tool.

The actions above are motivated by four major reasons. First, in modern society, population growth is no longer a priority, and therefore saving women and children first for the sake of preserving a generation does not apply. Although the role played by women and children in the continuation of a generation cannot be ignored, such arguments will not hold water in the present society. Secondly, I argue that although everyone at the time will be affected by the disaster, the injured persons are the most affected. The suffering that such people will be going through at the time will be greater than the rest due to the injuries they will have sustained. By not saving them first, they will likely end up dying before they are rescued. In addition, people with unique conditions such as disabilities, serious health problems, and pregnancy are at a disadvantage compared to the other groups. This requires that such groups be attended to quickly. Thirdly, in we live in a society where gender equality has become a very sensitive issue. Therefore, by not showing a preference for either gender, I will be promoting this principle and not be seen t have favored a particular group over another. This can be particularly troublesome if in the end, not everyone is saved and people of one gender end up dying more. Finally, due to the education and training opportunities available today, men and women have more or less the same skills and neither is at a serious disadvantage. Read More