These men who lost their lives and those that were injured, did not go to work in a suit and tie. These men worked their asses off deep into the pits of the earth so we could enjoy the luxury of electricity. Professionals they were but in a different sense compared to those who died in the WTC. Shit happens. Why shouldn't these men get the same recognition and honor as those who chose the good life over the bad? The money collected for the WTC "victims" should be shared with the families of this coal mine accident.

Three dead, nine missing after explosion in Alabama coal mine

The Associated Press

BROOKWOOD, Ala. (AP) An explosion rocked a deep coal mine, killing at least three miners and leaving nine others missing and presumed dead, a company spokesman said Monday. Four people were injured in the Blue Creek No. 5 mine, and one was in critical condition, said Kyle Parks of Walter Industries.

The explosion was caused by a cave-in Sunday during maintenance operations at the mine 36 miles southwest of Birmingham, said Parks, corporate communications director for the company based in Tampa, Fla.

The falling rock struck electrical equipment, creating sparks that ignited methane gas, said Dennis Hall, a spokesman for the company's subsidiary, Jim Walter Resources Inc. Methane is a natural component of most coal seams.

Hall said 23 workers were in the mine at the time of the accident.

It is the deepest vertical shaft coal mine in North America, at 2,200 feet deep, the company says.

There was no immediate indication where the cave-in or explosion occurred in the mine.

The mine, which opened in 1978, produces low-sulfur coal that is burned in power plants and in metallurgical operations.

The explosion was the latest in a series of accidents for Jim Walter Resources. Last month, a construction worker was killed in a fall at a company coal processing facility.

The No. 5 Mine was also the site of a blast in 1993 in which four workers were seriously burned.

It was closed in 1995 after "hot spots," or areas of spontaneous heating, were found in part of the mine. redistributed.

-- (helpthem@pleezehelp.pleeze), September 24, 2001

Answers

It's hard to disagree with your point. It seems that millions upon millions of dollars have been gathered for the 'victims' and relief of the 'national tragedy.' It seems there have been collection points all over the place at my little corner of the world, for underwear and boots and gloves. Tanker car loads of blood have been donated locally for the 'victims.'

Where is all that stuff going? If I understand it correctly, a very small number of injured survivors of the WTC have been counted-- some few dozen, under a hundred. Even fewer were since rescued- some of them rescue workers themselves trapped for a few hours.

It's wonderful that people want to help and it helps them feel good, but there are other opportunities for caring constantly, and just in America, occasions where such donations would actually help real individuals in need. Let's not forget those innocent victims also.

-- TheyCOuntToo (WhatAbout@Those.Guys), September 25, 2001.

Sorry, you working class stiffs are not in the budget. Just gave $15 Billion to the CEO's of the airline industry.

-- Dubya (just wait @ it. will "trickle down" (hee hee)), September 25, 2001.

“Where is all that stuff going?”

You seem to be a little restricted in your thinking so let me help you out. Most of the donated blood will stay in the area where it was given……blood is ALWAYS in demand.

Although it is true that very few have survived the crash sites, what about their families? Can you imagine the thousands of people who have lost their primary head of household member, or the thousands of people who have been displaced, or the HUNDREDS of thousands of people who have lost their jobs?

You don’t suppose the masterminds behind these acts had this is in their plan do you?

I agree that we have unspeakable tragedies take place in this country on a daily basis. When theses occur, there is most always an outpouring of sympathy and support. However, these recent events have struck to the soul of most American’s because we were attacked by a hostile enemy which is far more emotional than an industrial accident.

BTW, when you donate to one of the national charities, you are in essence helping to support all of their work.

-- So (cr@t.es), September 25, 2001.

How much money goes to the families, and how much goes to overhead costs--like salaries for Red Cross workers? Anyone know how much the CEO of the Red Cross makes?

-- (curious@curious.cur), September 25, 2001.

"However, these recent events have struck to the soul of most American’s because we were attacked by a hostile enemy which is far more emotional than an industrial accident."

I'm still having a hard time understanding this. 2 weeks later, and there are still huge gatherings going on all over the country. Yet, if you add up all the people who are killed around the world every week, this incident would pale in comparison.

Do Americans think they are so much better that they deserve more attention than the rest of the human race? Or is it because they fear for their own lives, and are therefore more upset?

Most of us know we are not likely to get killed in a coal mine or a plane accident, so we don't care much when that happens. But when people are ATTACKED, and we have someone to point the finger at, suddenly it becomes a whole lot more important, because we know we could be next. Isn't it really very selfish and pretentious to carry on this way, practicing such a double standard?

-- (americans@are.cowards), September 25, 2001.

But when people are ATTACKED, and we have someone to point the finger at, suddenly it becomes a whole lot more important, because we know we could be next. Isn't it really very selfish and pretentious to carry on this way, practicing such a double standard?

What double standard? Accidents can be the result of negligence at times, but they aren't the reult of willful acts. These people actually tried to, wanted to, prayed to kill civilians, and even preferred to kill women because that generates more media attention (that last fact taken from reports on the embassy bombings in Africa that were attributed to Bin Laden.)

If they had sent all four planes into the pentagon, you would still see great outrage in this country, but nothing near what you're seeing now. They killed 6500 innocents, with great relish.

And it isn't odd or cowardly (how do you get "cowardly" out of this, anyway?) that we're more outraged because it's mostly U.S. citizens that died - we share a nation, we benefit from each other, and it's a basic human response to want to protect your tribe - because they would protect you the same way. I just don't see why this doesn't click with you. You don't have to be a blind jingoist to see it.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), September 25, 2001.

The double standard is that Americans pretend to have so much more compassion when people are killed intentionally as opposed to those killed by accident. If you think about this for a moment, it has to be not because they feel any more compassion for those lost, but because they fear for their OWN lives.

The quantity also seems to have a lot to do with it, but that is typical for people who were raised to believe that more is better. When 300 people are killed in a plane crash such as Egypt Air for example, there were several hundred friends and relatives mourning for a few days. But when 6,000 are killed, all of a sudden this becomes a perpetual national campaign of so-called "compassion". True compassion would feel the loss of 1 person as greatly as the loss of 1 million.

The bottom line is that most of these people are making a big deal about this incident as opposed to others because this incident tells them that they too could be in real danger of dying. Somewhat selfish when you think about it, and cowardly.

-- (see@the.truth), September 25, 2001.

True compassion would feel the loss of 1 person as greatly as the loss of 1 million...

I can't even begin to formulate an idea how you could come to this conclusion. 1 person equals 1 million in some zero-sum compassion game? Is this a rule of some obscure religeous sect that you're trying to adhere to?

And as to your maintaining that emotions generated by accidents vs. massive intentional killings should be exactly similar, or else those feeling the emotions are "cowardly".... I just don't know what to say. Usually I can at least play devils advocate with myself and try to see the opposing posters side, but I can't see any logic or even any understandable immotional illogic in that statement. Would you get equally angry if your spouse or SO was stabbed vs. dying in a hurricane? Can you image how anger mixed with grief is a much different emotion than simple grief?

Huh. If not, carry on, I'm sure you'll find someone to talk to.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), September 25, 2001.