Things that don't suck: West Virginia

Update: Great article on ESPN, linking the miner's tragedy to the healing power of sports.

Last night, I was watching the news after the Penn State/FSU game (a supreme battle of futility; it made me want to rid football of kickers altogether) - anyway, this report comes on about the 12 miners in West Virginia who were trapped for 42 straight hours, exposed to poisonous gases ...they were saved! Halleluiah!

"A Miracle in West Virginia" read the by-line! People were dancing in the streets! A woman was interviewed, and she said how her brother in-law was in there, that he was going to make it, and this was going to be the best year of her family's entire life, as she was also a survivor - she beat cancer. Her quote, the one that made me take notice, was, "We knew good things would happen. West Virginians stick together, we pick each other up. We're a family."

So, like many Americans, I was disgusted this morning when I woke up to hear that all 12 were actually dead, and the information given out to the families last night was false. What made it even worse was the spokesperson for the mining corporation. The company's official statement was that there was a "miscommunication" - one that they knew was incorrect within 20 minutes of receiving the message!

Whoops, sorry everyone, did we say they were saved? We meant weren't saved. There aren't any weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, they're actually in Iran. So we were off a letter, what's the big deal?

I don't mean to be glib about this, but seriously, how the hell can you get THAT diagnosis wrong? There's not a whole lot of gray area - it's dead, or alive. Black or white. I guess we'll find out who screwed up, in due time. Man, is that guy feeling about 2 feet tall right about now...

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So anyway, I started thinking about what that woman said, about West Virginians sticking together. When I first heard that, it felt good to think there are communities out there, still looking out for one another. I've just got creepy, nosy neighbors. It sounds like a nice place, West Virginia.

Unfortunately, a harsh reality awaits, and they needs her statement to be true now more than ever. I cannot begin to imagine that sort of heartache. Their hope, their spirits were literally trampled between last night & this morning. Destroyed. But if there's one thing about America, we can rally in times of need. Just ask Ray Nagin.

Scratch that.

My exposure to West Virginia is limited to the following:

• My friend Andy has some family from there
• John Denver. West Virginia, mountain momma...
  
• WVU basketball. Mike Gansey has undoubtedly been the most entertaining college basketball player the past two years, and you have to see him play to understand
  
• WVU Football. Disgraced Georgia in the Sugar Bowl 38-35, in Atlanta.
  
• Deliverance. Inbreeding. Appalacia.
  

I have to say, WV is an easy target because of the latter, and unfairly - Deliverance doesn't even take place in WV! It takes place in northern Georgia (that hellhole of a state). In reality, the good outweighs the bad, even though Washington still looks at WV as their third world neighbor.

I've decided to never make fun of that state again. Making fun of WV ("What's a come-on to a girl from West Virgina?" "Nice tooth.") is akin to making fun of Helen Keller. It's an easy, mean-spirited out. And they've done nothing to deserve it.

An event that could have galvanized these people with hope and faith has turned into, well, what we're used to these days. An infuriating glob of finger-pointing and lawyering up. Yes, coal mining is dangerous work, and this isn't the first time miners have been trapped underground with little hope of escape - but none of it changes the fact that 12 families worried, prayed, rejoiced, then died inside. All in the course of 2 days. West Virginia deserves better. West Virginia deserves a break.