American Coal Miner
Public consensus places the American coal miner as an ignorant hillbilly who is out of touch with the modern world.
But that is not so.
The coal miner is a professional man. He comes from a long heritage of dedicated workers.
The modern coal miner is educated in many fields. He knows high voltage electricity and he can diagnose low voltage panel boards and switches in equipment.
He is trained in ventilation controls; he knows how to apply first aid; he is skilled in hydraulics and he knows how to communicate with others in a dark, noisy environment.
The coal miner is a block mason and he is a carpenter and he is trained to work with explosives. He is a skilled mechanic who works on specialized equipment that you and I cannot begin to understand.
The coal miner knows more mining laws than the average attorney; he has a working knowledge of rock formations; he is a medic who knows how to dress wounds and he can build splints for broken bones.
No regular EMT can come underground to his rescue, he watches out for the safety of his brothers in labor, working in a harsh environment.
He knows how to bring the wounded out.
The coal miner uses complicated instruments to measure noise levels and atmospheric oxygen and respirable dust.
He is a geologist; he is a chemist. He is an engineer.
He is business savvy and he welcomes responsiblity.
He knows how to get it done.
The coal miner is a professional man. He is a business man. He is a family man. He is the head of his home, yet he is everyone’s servant.
The coal miner is a real man.
The coal miner isn’t looking for a handout from Washington. He looks for a weekly paycheck that he has earned for a job well done.
He pays his taxes and he feeds his family.
The coal miner is the hub of a very large wheel that turns the economy of our state. Give the coal miner a chance and he will apply himself to delivering the coal that is needed to make the steel that will rebuild our country’s infrastructure.
He will keep our lights burning.
Don’t knock him; and don’t mock him. The coal miner does not seek your approval nor your praise.
We should give him our respect.
He has earned it.
“Friends aren’t the one’s you’ve known the longest, it’s the ones that came and never left your side”
Thanks for the share, JB!
