THE ROBERT W. WHITAKER ARCHIVE

WHAT COAL MINERS SHOULD TEACH US | 2002-08-03

Coal miners have a special meaning to me. Unlike leftist Heroes of the Working Class in Hollywood, I actually know a lot of working people.

As I have mentioned in whitakeronline, about the proudest I have ever been was when a West Virginia coal miner said, "Whitaker speaks for us, and he's not even a hick."

I AM a hick -- from Pontiac, SC -- but as their Official Spokesman I had to cover that up with a coat and tie.

That miner's remark was made at a joint press conference and march I had arranged in Washington, DC, for West Virginia parents fighting filthy textbooks and Boston anti-busers.

I was also an official Honorary Boston Southie.

Coal miners and Boston Southies are not people who are noted for giving their trust freely and easily. I earned it.

Those nine coal miners who just survived are typical of the breed I am proud to have been trusted by.

Jane Fonda keeps saying that nuclear energy is dangerous and implies that other energy production isn't. She doesn't know anybody who's worked on an oil rig or in a coal mine.

Nobody but a bunch of coal miners would have been cool enough to find a place to survive down there. The very idea gives me the cold crawlies.

Damn, they're good!