Obama Eulogizes 29 Coal Miners—And Avoids Tough Talk on Enforcement

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5910/obama_eulogizes_29_coal_minersand_avoids_tough_talk_on_enforcement/

Monday April 26 1:41 pm


Signs and a coal mining uniform are placed in memorial for deceased Massey miners in Whitesville, West Va., on April 11, 2010. (Photo by Kayana Szymczak/Getty Images)


By Lindsay Beyerstein

Yesterday, when President Obama visited West Virgniato eulogize the 29 miners who perished in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster earlier this month, many were expecting a righteous denunciation of corporate greed and institutional inertia.

The mining company, Massey Energy, has racked up thousands of health and safety violations at the Upper Big Branch mine since 1995. Government inspectors were constantly citing the mine for accumulations of water and coal dust, absent and defective lifelines, poor airflow, excessive methane, defective and improperly calibrated gas meters, and other serious safety hazards. Miners trudged to work in water up to 48 inches deep, which inspectors described as a drowning hazard. Inspectors observed drifts of combustible coal dust up to 24 inches deep. (And—surprise surprise—the mine was not unionized.)

But although Obama said the U.S. government is morally obligated to prevent future mining tragedies, instead of railing against injustice, the president focused on comforting the community with prayer and celebrating the deceased miners as living embodiments of the American Dream: brave, hard working, community-oriented, and devoted to their families.

"If any comfort can be found, it can, perhaps, be found by seeking the face of God, who quiets our troubled minds, mends our broken hearts, and eases our mourning souls," the president said.

The president said that the miners and their families "knew the risks"—his point being that they were brave and stoic. The cliche about knowing the risks obscures what was happening at the mine. The miners knew there were risks over and above the intrinsic dangers of coal mining and nobody did anything about them. One of the late miners, Josh Napper, was so worried about the poor ventilation that sent him home from work on April 2 that he wrote a goodbye letter to his mother, financee, and baby daughter.

FULL story at link.

[mfcorey1]

1. It was a memorial service and I am glad......

he maintained the dignity of that. He has already spoken out on the need for stricter enforcement and has called on his administration for a swift and thorough investigation. There has already been a regulation sweep. I thought his eulogy was appropriate and well received.