Classic American Film, Thursday, Period 4

[eager-platypus.livejournal.com]

"Good afternoon," Ziva said, greeting the class once it seemed like everyone was there. The desks were still in the classroom, but there were more comfortable chairs and beanbags on the floor as well, in case anyone wanted a nicer seat in front of the television screen.

"The first film we are going to watch together is one that some people might not consider a classic. Olympia is not a terribly old film at all, but it was an extremely successful film, and it deals with a real event that actually took place in American history. Therefore, I thought it would be a good place to start our class. First, we will watch the movie, and then we will have a short discussion. Does that sound good?" Without waiting for an answer, Ziva clapped her hands. "Wonderful, let us get started."

Comments

Discussion [09/09]

[eager-platypus.livejournal.com]

When the movie had ended, Ziva got back up in front of the class.

"Now that we have seen what can happen when ships do not watch where they are going, my question to you is: what would you have done if you were on the sinking ship?" Ziva asked. "Would you have been stuck at the bottom level, unable to get out? Would you have helped others get to safety? Or would you have taken advantage of being a woman or child and jumped on the first lifeboat you could get onto?"

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[therewaslife]

"I would have helped others get to their boats," Bod said without hesitation. "The children first, especially, since they probably weren't strong swimmers and needed those more than anyone else. I'd want to help before I'd want to save myself."

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[awakestheghosts]

"I would have definitely wanted to help people get to the boats. Probably the children first because they're so small, then I'd help the women and the elderly, as well."

Let's not point out that Chloe is so tiny that someone in the name of helping would grab her and throw her into a boat as soon as they saw her.

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Helped the others," Helen said promptly. "I could not live with myself if I just sat back in safety."

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[chief-cheerio.livejournal.com]

"I would have tried to help people who really needed it, like old people or moms with kids," Quinn rattled off, in part because she didn't want to sound totally heartless. "But then I'd get on a lifeboat as soon as I could. They do the women and children stuff for a reason, right?"

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[chic-harper.livejournal.com]

"I'd like to think that I would have been helping people get to the lifeboats," said Harper, "but I know that, in reality, I would have been running around screaming."

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[onapalebicycle.livejournal.com]

If George were on the Olympia, it would probably be as an overworked reaper trying to grab souls from hundreds of people drowning in the ocean. Suddenly, her job didn't seem so bad by comparison.

Unless she were still alive. But then ...

"I think," she said carefully, "that I would ... try to get on the lifeboats? But if it was too hard, I'd give up and say it wasn't my fault and ... probably drown."

She hadn't even stepped out of the way, from the flaming toilet seat. Why hadn't she? It was bugging her.

Re: Discussion [09/09]

[she-sheds.livejournal.com]

"I doubt I would have been able to offer much in the way of assistance," Joolushko said after a moment's consideration. "I would have gone right to the lifeboats."