Off Topic...Utah Miners - Page 1

For weeks now I've been watching the coverage on the Utah miners and my heart truly goes out to those people and their families.  I'm quite torn with this latest announcement that they have put the rescue efforts on hold indefinately and do not know if they ever will allow anyone to return inside of the mine to recover the bodies.  On one hand I see the families position- if it were my husband, father, brother I'd want them out dead or alive and that would be all I was focussed on.  But on the other hand being in the construction industry, having to rely on the engineers findings I do also agree it with the condition of the mine it's not worth risking more lives.  This has got to be a horrible position to be in for whomever is making the final call.

Just wondered how many feel it should still be considered a "rescue" and not a "recovery"?  I tend to think these poor miners were killed by the impact of the collapse and want to believe they died instantly without suffering or being put through the emotional and mental stress of being trapped waiting to be rescued any time.  But my gut is telling me they have perished.  But what IF they are still alive??  Who would know and no one will ever know if they died without suffering or if they perished because they were unable to be rescued??  I can't imagine being a loved one of one of those miners and having that lay heavily on my mind for the rest of my life.  My thoughts and prayers go out to those families.

Agar, I too have been following this closely and it is very sad indeed.  I too am on the fence about what they should really do.

My feelings are that even if the miners survived the initial collapse, they probably did not make it thru the last one.  Even though there were found to be some pockets with survivable air quality, I would think the last collapse did not help that either.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of them.  But still, that little question lingers, what if there is someone still alive?  Horrible to think.

As chilling as the answers may be, either way, if it were my husband or child in there I would be clawing at the earth myself! On the other hand, it's other people you have to rely on to do the rescue/recovery and I don't know that I'd want to risk my family in that situation either.  It kind of reminds me of the movie "Sophie's Choice", just makes me nauseaus to even ponder the questions, very sad indeed.

I think most of us are teetering with the same feelings EXCEPT of course the people who have a loved one in there.  I can't say I blame them though.  I'd hate to be the mine owner right about now.  People were downing him saying he was "hiding" but hell that man is in a heck of a prediciment...on one hand he has a moral obligation to proceed with efforts to recover the miners dead or alive but on the other hand he also has a legal obligation to protect himself and everyone else he puts back in that mine.  I'd be hiding too.  How in the world could I face these people with the hard facts when if it were my child in there I'd want them out too??  I think they were too hard on him.  The man clearly was doing his best acting as quickly as the conditions of the mine would allow him to- he was even disappointed in the beginning with how long it was taking to drill the first hole.  I really believe he's battling with grief and emotions himself quite honestly.  I personally do not know how I would have found the courage to face the families with their grief, anger and concern having to give the technical facts which is not what they want to hear??  I commend everyone who was involved in the rescue risking their own lives and safety.

Very sad situation. I don't think there is right or wrong answer.