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OPINIONS
Voice of the people
Coal industry uses language to mislead
Language is a powerful tool, and it is an ideological weapon that can be wielded by the powerful to shape the images and perceptions to suit the interests of the powerful.
A clear example of this is Massey Energy’s demonizing environmentalists. CEO Don Blakenship called environmentalists “crazy.” He said the “greeniacs were taking over the world.” Blankenship showed a video clip of Jimmy Carter encouraging conservation as an example of the rise of socialism and the “elimination of capitalism and free market enterprise.”
What is crazy is that the Massey proposed a mountaintop removal site on Coal River Mountain. This rests beside a 6 billion gallon coal waste sludge dam. This site will sit perilously above Marsh Fork Elementary.
The Buffalo Creek disaster that killed 125 people involved a failed dam that was 500 acre-feet. Today, the average coal refuse dam is 20,000 acre-feet. If you thought that the Buffalo Creek disaster was horrific, a dam failure at Coal River would be far more catastrophic.
What is sane is the recent protest against Massey Energy and the Coal River Mountain site. If somebody was going to harm you, your family, community and environment, then the only rational reaction is to fight back. What is rational is developing alternative energy resources such as the development of a wind farm. This would provide sustainable energy production and serve as a source of long-term employment opportunity.
The world according to the coal industry is topsy-turvy. It’s just like reading a page from John Stuber’s and Sheldon Rampton’s “Toxic Sludge is Good for You: Lies, Damn Lies and the Public Relations Industry.” Coal companies can do all the greenwashing and whitewashing, but the people in the coal-producing communities know there is no such thing as clean coal.
It is time that we turn our world around. We must fight to defend our family, community and environment.
Winnie Fox
Huntington
Bibles should be placed everywhere
This is in response to a previous letter. Yes, I feel Bibles should be placed anywhere that they can be. If everyone would think about God and put their trust in him, this country would not be in the shape that it’s in today. Christianity is not being pushed or forced on anyone. It’s a choice that has been around for thousands of years. And this country was founded on Christian values.
There are two places for mankind: heaven or hell. It’s your choice, not mine. So get a good book and study up on your history. There are plenty of good people to help you anytime. We’ll pray for you.
Bob Roberts
Louisa, Ky.
