Comments on: The face of coal: Joe Craft to speak on culture, importance of resource in Kentucky

By: I Agree

I Agree — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:58:26 +0000

William Turner, I agree with you all the way. I am a miner with a BS degree. It is used everyday on my job because we mine with computers, PLC’s,computer generated operating systems, highly advanced guidance systems just to mine coal everyday. I am not the only one, there are many in everyday mining. Contray to many non-supporters belief that coal miners are dumb and un-educated, mines employee very smart people with a wonderful work ethic. I wonder how many non-supporters could do what we do everyday? I bet very few! Come try it!
I once heard that its not the words one uses, it is how you use the words you do say. I noticed some on these posts use the big words or words that are used infrequently to make them seem smart as if they know what they are talking about. I feel sorry for them. KISS–Keep It Simple Stupid. William, you have probably heard that statement before. Everyone should remember this when they speak.

By: William Turner

William Turner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:42:31 +0000

As a fellow 4th generation Coal miner and UK Mining Engineering student I have heard many stories from my grandfather and dad that have made me be grateful for the leaps and bounds the coal industry has grown in recent years. When you work in these conditions and with these people you gain a greater understanding for its importance in such rural areas. Without coal I would say my entire family would have to be supported by the government. I couldn’t afford to go to college and would never give back to my community in a way I might be able to later. There are known issues with how coal is put to use but give us a chance to create better cleaner ways to harvest its supper efficient and cost effective power. Every time someone from Eastern Kentucky tries to work hard and support their family there will always be people there to say they are less educated or they don’t see the bigger picture….

By: miner

miner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:53:24 +0000

SP, our long-standing beliefs change everyday ans every year. We build on those long-standing tried and true beliefs and find better ways to do what we do. True, in the old days mining was nasty and very destructive but is not so know. The mining community has found some very good ways to keep streams clean, good reforestation (with UK’s help) and found better ways to leace the land so when coal is gone there will be flat land that can support industry. This has already started to happen but has slowed down because of people that are going on the picture and stories from the old days. I ask everyone to get educated on the real ways of E KY., come take a closer look and live for a while here. If you live here, get out and see what good things have come from coal and how modern mining is conducted.

By: sp

sp — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:32:31 +0000

Citizen of E KY: there is no doubt that the coal industry provides economic benefit to a good many individuals. I don’t believe those who seek issue with the industry seek issue (or are “un-educated”) in this fact…they are simply educated to see BEYOND what temporary economic gains will hold in a community. Furthermore, there is an entire (green) industry to be developed in the wake of the inevitably faltering environmentally “un”conscious ones.

The issue with your point is you are celebrating good things that come from an inherently negative source — I don’t think you can excuse or polish this into a favorable light. I’m going to focus a little more on the abstract here, with the assumption that everyone can fundamentally understand what the “negative” aspects are which I am inferring (this is a very generous assumption though, I understand).

It is one thing to celebrate culture…it is another to uphold negative traditions. The South is so deeply rooted in this obsession with tradition…how foolish does it look in a few decades (or a century — or even sooner) when the rest of society will look back at this cherished “culture” with utter distaste and probably disbelief. It has happened so many times before yet people still desperately cling to harmful “traditions”…I just don’t understand it.

So when people criticize the protesters or brush them off as liberal freaks and whatnot, I can only shrug. Their passion will always be seen in somewhat of a lighthearted manner (serious but with a question of credibility) like those in the past have…but I mean, at least they distinguish themselves from the fools who adhered to these precious long-standing beliefs. If you’re looking back at the voices of resistance or the silent masses, I’d rather rest assured that they at least will not be mistaken – through inactivity – with those who supported negative traditions. Looking a little dramatic seems fine in contrast.

A bit of a tangent, but that’s that.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:23:26 +0000

I support Joe Craft and the Coal Industry 100%! Work it Joe!

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:53:11 +0000

I followed the gracious contributions by Joe Craft and the Alliance Resource Partners, L.P right up until the donation was tagged with the request to add “coal” to the name of the lodge. If you want to market and educate people on coal, then do so separately. If you want to donate, donate.

I followed and agreed with the story that the donation touches more then the players on the court. But, I agree with one of the responders here that request to add or change the Lodge name to add “coal” is propaganda with an agenda tied to a business entity.

By: Jerod

Jerod — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:08:48 +0000

Joe Craft is a businessman an UK is a business. I do not see a problem with him donating money or the University accepting it. Where the problem lies is that the naming of lodge in favor of coal instead of him is pure propoganda. The coal industry is using its profits from raping the mountains of Appalachia to go on a PR binge to quieten the people whose lives they are destroying. Coal is bad. Mountain Top Removal is terrible. Coal is not going away, we need to realize that. Why not ditch the PR campaign about how great coal is and use that money to make coal more responsible to the environment and the people of Appalachia.

By: Citizen of E KY

Citizen of E KY — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:38:18 +0000

Wonderful article! If everyone would dig into the coal industry and particulary the people in coal, they would find good people trying to do good things in communitys utilizing the coal industry. Plenty of non-coal supporters are so un-educated about how coal reaches into everyones life in a good way, that they think the U.S. can do without it. Coal not only provides us with electricity and steel, but provide us with many other items that no one really hears about. I would like to see an article that tells of the many different things made with coal being used by the everyday citizen of the U.S. and don’t realize it. Keep it up and Joe Craft may come to see the Kernal someday–if you know what I mean!