In the news, Huntington residents talk of how those who live in the community take care of one another; how the miners know mine work is dangerous and they could be killed at any time; how the miners will do anything to rescue their fellow miners, whom they love.

But I see no anger at Murray Energy for retreat mining four miles into the mountain with 1,800 feet of rock pressing on tunnels nearing the end of their use; no apparent anger that miners were being assigned to yank out coal pillar supports around them; no apparent anger that although the mountain had been "bumping" (shifting into the void of removed coal) earlier this year, Murray Energy was doing anything to rescue the coal.

I am reminded of Terry Tempest Williams' book, Refuge, about her downwinder community's response to numerous deaths from cancer following exposure to nuclear test fallout. Her community took care of each family that had lost a member. They brought food, solace, prayers. But they didn't seem to question whether so many early deaths had been necessary.

Mary O'Brien

Castle Valley