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America was on tenterhooks in the days and hours leading up to Sunday morning's daring rescue in Somerset, Pennsylvania. The nation was riveted, transfixed. Every breaking development was devoured, anxiously. But Americans would never yield to despair. Throughout the 3-day ordeal, the glimmerest glimmer of hope, the slimmest slim silver lining would nourish faith that all will turn out well, in the end.
Yet, surveying the Sunday morning TV talk-show landscape, the rescue was worth no more than perfunctory mention, or slip-shod "interviews" slapdashed during opening minutes. The mediocre coverage -- the lukewarmly indifference -- illustrated glaringly how immensely out of touch the Beltway media is from the rest of America.
On Meet the Press, the Enron/WorldCom/corporate scandal feeding frenzy raged on. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neil was served a volley of invective as the testy, petulant host in vain strove to heave him off message. Why aren't you heeding calls for you to resign, Mr. Secretary? (Russert trots out the New Republic. Oh, wow! Now there's a model of objectivity for ya, eh?!) Don't you know people are hurting, Mr. Secretary?! Do you even care, Mr. Secretary?! When will you resign, Mr. Secretary?! Why don't you do us all a favor -- tie a stone around your neck and drown yourself in the Potomac river already, Mr. Secretary?
ABC's This Week and CBS's Face the Nation were 'sky-is-falling' echoes of Meet the Press. Why aren't you soothing the market, Mr. Secretary? Don't you care whether stocks sink or swim come Monday, Mr. Secretary? Workers are hurting, Mr. Secretary! Resign! Resign! Now!
Stock prices, P/E multiples, the fed's next move, the next shoe to drop -- that's the Beltway fixation these days. An Asteroid could bray half the planet tomorrow, and Timmy Russert would wonder, 'what impact will this have on Wall Street? How far south will Bush's approval ratings dip? Will the layer of soot blanketing the air spark a rally in commodities?'
Speaking of planets, what planet, exactly, do these people live on, anyway?
As for the rest of America, news of nine coal miners trapped in a flooded shaft, clinging to dear life -- with time running out -- was the topic on everyone's lips. This soaring drama of human will, of indomitable resolve, of courage and determination gripped our thoughts, our hopes, our minds, our hearts, our prayers. It's a story of triumph over tragedy, of heroism and miracles, of heart-thrilling, soul-stirring inspiration words could never convey.
The courage and valor of the rescuers touched a chord across America. The mettle and moxie of the miners, who defied death in the face, electrified the country. For 77 hours, they stood steeped in up to 4 feet of water, as they battled to stay alive. For 77 hours, rescuers toiled strenuously against time, against the odds.
But they won!
Hearts leapt with joy and thunderous applause broke out as Randy Fogle, black coal dust covering his face, was pulled from the metal cage he rode up the 240-foot-deep shaft. He was the first, but wouldn't be the last. Fifteen minutes later, it was Harry Mayhugh's turn. Shortly afterwards, it was Tom Foy, then John Unger, the fourth miner rescued. John Phillippi and Ron Hilemand were the fifth and sixth miners brought to the surface, followed by Dennis J. Hall 10 minutes later, at 2:20 a.m., ET. At 2:30 a.m., Robert Pugh Jr. became the eighth miner rescued.
Then, at 2:45 a.m., at long last, the moment all America had been waiting for: Flashing a thumbs-up, Mark Popernack became the nineth and final miner pulled from the jaws of death.
The cries of joy, the cheers and roaring ovation in Somerset resonated across America. "This is a miracle", said John Weir, company spokesman
Yes, folks, that good, old-fashioned American can-do spirit is alive and kicking!
America, I love you!
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"