Crum your last post Paradise Revisited brought back memories. I spent my young years in western Kentucky. The proud coal miners, and the destruction to both men and land by money grubbing coal executives is a real memory. But it wasn't just then - it still goes on and is still recorded in the music of today.
North Carolina is presently in the news for coal ash pollution of
major watersheds. It is one thing to
watch the story evolve from afar and marvel at the what seems like an obvious
connection between the state government and the coal industry; but for the
people of the rural Appalachians this is just business as usual.
Being an old Kentucky boy, I
understand the connection between coal and the people. Coal has been a major part of life for the
people of Appalachia and for the economy of
the state. Those not familiar should
understand that a young man can graduate (or drop out) from high school and
step into a fifty-thousand dollar a year job in the mines. Miners understand that companies like Peabody
Cole provide their standard of living and without the mines they (the miners)
are not trained or qualified for comparable salaried jobs – jobs that do not
even exist in the rural areas where they live.
Appalachian miners are proud
people and their roots run deep in the mountain culture. Most miners have followed the tradition of
their fathers, grand-fathers and great grand-fathers in the mines; and as
distasteful and dangerous as coal mining may be, to the people of Appalachian
West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina it is their culture and they are willing to overlook
ecological dangers and safety shortcomings – and by protecting the mines they
are protecting their culture and way of life.
Some of these rural
communities can appear rough to outsiders and the law often turns a blind eye to
minor law-breaking; but when you are speaking of a coal mining community you’ve
got to ask yourself ‘Who's the outlaw?’
