— Why won’t coal industry denounce violence?
Kenneth McKinney continues promoting coal industry violence against citizens speaking out to protect their families in his Feb. 22 letter. Apparently, as evidenced by their comments or silence, the coal industry leaders in this state accept his views, which I’ll summarize here: It’s OK to beat, threaten and kill people who have written letters or testified to views that disagree with yours; people who chain themselves to chairs or machines or hang banners are the same as suicide bombers who blow up buses and kill innocent people; there is no difference between violence and nonviolence, livelihoods and lives, money and people, or heritage and future.
There is far too much in his lengthy volume to rebut in a single letter, but essentially he missed the point. He “goes where the money is,” indicating his only motivation and the complete inability of many in the coal industry to grasp the concept of volunteerism or working for a cause higher than their own wealth. Most people in the movement to end mountaintop removal get paid far less than their peers or volunteer their time for a cause they’re devoted to.
Yes, I’ve worked — almost constantly since I was 14, including many minimum wage jobs and work that left me bleeding, blistered and injured. I also worked through college and served my country, a higher cause, as a U.S. Air Force officer. Then Congress and President Bush laid off thousands of us in 1992, many without a severance check; the Soviet Union was as impermanent as coal, and its demise meant the end of our careers. We’d worked ourselves out of a job, much as the coal industry is doing now.
However, we did not go on a rampage calling for the lynching of our fellow citizens. We did not send peaceful protesters to the hospital. We did not invade picnics and threaten to kill children. We did not write letters to newspapers advocating these actions, as Mr. McKinney has. Instead, we accepted the reality of the situation and either used our skills or learned new skills to get or create new jobs.
If people whose jobs involved the management and application of violence can make a nonviolent career transition, why do people like Mr. McKinney promote assault as a means of keeping their jobs? Why won’t the West Virginia Coal Association denounce violence? Why won’t the coal industry address the inevitable decline of coal and promote renewable energy for permanent jobs, a prosperous and stable economy, and energy independence? Mr. McKinney says, “I hope you freeze in the dark.” I hope you don’t. I hope instead we can behave as civilized human beings and prevent the worst effects of our over-reliance on a fossil fuel. Right now, though, peaceful protesters have spent two weeks in jail without a conviction and with outlandish cash-only bails, while coal supporters guilty of assault and battery go free with a mere $100 fine.
Vernon Haltom
Princeton
Children in ER can use stuffed animals
For several years I have been buying new stuffed animals (Boo-Boo babies) from the local Goodwill. Merchants who did not sell these during the holiday would donate them to Goodwill. I would then go and purchase these new stuffed animals and give them to children in the ER who have had scary, painful procedures. It was as much therapy to me as it was to them.
Now Goodwill can no longer sell these. I cannot afford to buy these at retail. If any merchant has these small stuffed animals that did not sell, small enough a little arm can go around, please do not discard them. I would love to come pick them up and give them to my little angels.
I have also been asked by lab, X-ray and EMS personnel for these so that they too can have them for their little ones.
Sandra McCoy
Brenton
