JANUARY 6, 2006
WHAT ELSE?
When dire situations such as the coal miner's deaths at Tallmansville,West Virginia occur most of us react in a normal and seek ways in which we can express the genuine sorrow we feel for the victims and, especially their families and all who must live in such a rigorous environment to survive.
It is difficult for any who have not lived in an authentic coal mining area to really feel the unequaled depths and wide concern such people develop concerning their loved ones. There is a vast difference between working where danger is threatened or deemed possible to one in which death is a constant host standing ready for the slightest invitation. Two members of my high school graduation class died in coal mine accidents along the West Virginia - Virginia border. Less than a year out of school and all was lost.
I remember such times in the 1930's, too when the annual totals for mining deaths went to, and beyond, four hundred men. Almost every time we heard of infractions of existing mine safety rules and plans were announced for additional regulations to be set tin place.
Obviously, some such promised changes were brought about. They must have been since there has been improvement since our annual count is far lower. But when events such as the most recent mishap we are reminded of how other area of our existence are accident-prone.
One important factor in the West Virginia case was the apparent lack of dependable communication at the site. The news media is being, I think, falsely accused of being lax in their responsibility to spread facts and not rumor. Studies will show how the false report of “ten alive and
one killed ” was widely spread for hours before it was discovered that the exact opposite was, in fact, true:”Ten dead – one barely alive!” Someone will be found to have been the source of this major error.
At this juncture there is sufficient need for us to ask ourselves some direct questions?
Where else in our society have such instances of “poor communication” been a central favor? Are there other areas in which we should be giving them attention - getting at the truth in each of them? Is it a fact hat some criminal investigations are at a standstill because of the paucity of communications among those those concerned with their solution? Very few cities or towns are without their own backlog of unsolved crimes. It is obvious that someone spoke out of turn at Sago, West Virginia spreading rumor for fact among those residents awaiting news of the rescue work being attempted.
All of this should remind us of the need for accuracy in spreading the news. We are in special danger in our time because of the nature of our competitive news agencies - everyone wants to be first.
A.L.M. January 6, 2006 [c488wds]
