Comments on: The sad controversy over ‘Coal Country’

By: Ken Ward Jr.

Ken Ward Jr. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:12:31 +0000

OK, folks …

I’ve had to take down a couple of comments that were just nasty attacks on the other side of the issue … clearly, I’m fighting a losing battle trying to get people to actually talk with each other rather than just calling names and being nasty…

So, we’re shutting down the comments on this post now.

Ken.

By: watcher

watcher — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 20:33:01 +0000

Ken ,nothing silly about it , I’m pro-coal ,nothing to hide here. Besides you said it best, the movie has a point of view that m t r is not good and an economy focused on coal is not good,thats good enough for me .

By: blue canary

blue canary — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:53:54 +0000

I’m not sure what the coal folks think their scare tactics are going to do, other than make them look bad. All the controversy around the movie just makes people more interested in seeing it!

By: Ken Ward Jr.

Ken Ward Jr. — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:47:59 +0000

watcher,

I would suggest that protesting the showing of a movie you haven’t seen is a silly response … it reminds me of a book my four-year-old reads, “Arthur and the Scare Your Pants Off Book Club.” See http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0316115487.asp.

In the story, Arthur and his friends love this series of scary books, until one parent organizes a campaign to ban the books. But it turns out the parent hasn’t read the books — and when he does, he likes them.

Ken.

By: Bob Kincaid

Bob Kincaid — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:20:59 +0000

If this film isn’t screened in Charleston it will simply prove, once and for all, that West Virginia is NOT a state in this Union; that West Virginia is, in fact, a fiefdom of out-of-state coal companies who motivate their workers through fear and intimidation and rule this state with an iron fist via jack-boot tactics; that we do not enjoy the rights guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States; that “speech” is not a right, but a commodity bought and sold by and to the highest bidder.

Incidentally, it will also prove the failure of every idea the Coal Lobby and their cronies have put forth.

Howie got it spot-on upthread. Thanks for saying what you did. It is sickening and heart-rending to realize that West Virginia has an information clampdown comparable to North Korea, Iran and China where Sacred Coal and Holy Profit are concerned.

Gandhi said “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.

Welcome to Stage Three. It is bitter.

Stage Four is going to be sweet.

By: dianne

dianne — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:29:32 +0000

Thanks Ken for the forum you provide!

By: watcher

watcher — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:11:54 +0000

Ken, you are right you dont know what is or isn’t planned by the pro-coal folks, so the use of the word thuggery is uncalled for. I suggest the coal supporters have every right to “protest” the screening of this movie.

By: Howie Branham

Howie Branham — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:01:05 +0000

I agree that the Gov.Manchin should be on the front row. This state sent me and a great many people to Iraq to give people the right to free speach. This is starting to become a free speach rights isuess, and Gov. Manchin should recall every member of the national guard from Iraq, if He is not going to protect the right of the people of this state to say what’s on there minds, reguardless of which side thay are on. It saddens me that all we went through in a another country has not been lost on the people of this good state. all veterns should call the Govenors office and demand that He get behind the showing of this movie. let the other side protest from a disstance if they wish, and are peacefull, and let the state police keep the peace. this breaks my heart that this even has to be takled about in West Virginia. maybe Gov.Manchin should ask that all of our guardsmen be sent home to help provid free speach in mountains of WV.