A Coal Miner's Son

My father represents a forgotten time and place to me. This time only exists in my head, as history and fact have little place in my vague memory. My mind is tainted by things like my childhood fears that I would one day have to come home black-faced and tired like him. These fears were reinforced by everything from the evening news, with stories from the daily coal soap opera, to the fact that most of my friends’ parents were miners. I simply didn’t have a frame of reference for a different life.

It’s interesting for me to visit Beckley, West Virginia now. While here, I am reminded of all of my insecurities of youth. I am reminded of how I could have been, had it not been for my encouraging parents. There is so much poverty, not extreme poverty, but an overall depression here that is simply heartbreaking to me. One has to wonder, of course, about things like the social aspects of poverty. The answer is never as simple as job creation, stimulus packages, or outsourcing. The blame game that is common, and one that Washington routinely plays on, is simply not robust enough to explain a problem that is deeply associative and complex such as the economy.

The pervasive redneck mentality that is common in places like West Virginia is based upon a purposeful separation from “the establishment”. Of course, the establishment in this thought process is also the pathway to economic prosperity, as it can only be through embracing opportunity that one is able to move up the economic ladder. One has to only look at the emerging economies of the world to see examples of how the social climate effects economic prosperity. Jeffery Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and author of Common Wealth and The End of Poverty, has addressed these issues in great detail. The United States and most of Europe have been blessed by a perfect storm of opportunity. We have freedom, natural resources and social progression that allows us the chance to progress. It’s sad to me to see even pockets, like West Virginia, that have thus far been unable to create an environment of prosperity. I would encourage everyone to read the books listed above, which will give you a deeper understanding of economic truth, especially in these troubled times.

Of course, any mention of the negatives of West Virginia is really a contradiction of sorts, as it is a breathtakingly beautiful state. I was amazed the other day, as I was driving through the mountains, at the natural beauty here. A few snow flakes and it seems that Ansel Adams would be at home here.

As my path in life has brought me to live in Dayton, OH, I am glad to visit West Virginia on occasion. I enjoy spending time with my family and reminiscing. I love to stop and see the beauty that God has made, and to breath the fresh air that is uniquely home. When I tell people where I’m from, they always respond “I’ve been through there, it’s pretty.” I would encourage you to stop next time; find a state park like Hawks Nest or Little Beaver State Park, take a deep breath and enjoy West Virginia as it was intended. It is truly a perfect example of the adage: “It’s a great place to visit, but you don’t want to live here.” Unfortunately.

As much as I am glad to live in an area that is slightly more economically sound, I wonder what my life would have been like had I chosen the life of a coal miner. Still today, yound men head to the coal mines at the tender age of 18, hoping to land a position in a dying industry. The appeal of college or skilled trade is not enough to battle the weight of an instant career. With the encouragement of my amazing parents, I have battled my way to a college degree (B.S. in Finance from Liberty University). The difficulties that I faced in the process meant that it took me more than 10 years to finish. While I know that everyone has a different story, mine was an internal battle. I persevered to the end, and have found that my old way of thinking has died. In it’s place is a man who does not quit. I am proud of what I have achieved, and by the grace of God I hope to achieve more.

While I am also proud to be a coal miners son, I am more proud of the example that my father gave me. He works a job that he has never liked in order to support his family. He has taught me to love my family and to love God above all. The economic depression here in West Virginia is in direct conflict with the amazing people who live here. One day I am confident that this place will find a new identity. When it does, maybe it will start to more closely relate to the slogan “Almost Heaven, West Virginia.”

This entry was posted on November 28th, 2009 and is filed under personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.