I know little to nothing about mining. My exposure to the effects of mining on a person's health has only been in my office. I have seen John Sayles' modern movie classic "Matewan", depicting the corruption rampant in the early days (not so long ago) of mining in West Virginia.

But as has become custom, Americans take for granted the frontline providers of our well-being and the risks they take in their endeavor until disaster strikes (usually for the second or third time). About a week ago, a collapse trapped six miners in the Utah mine where they worked. The response was immediate, of course. Mine owners, families, and the press converged on the mining town. The obligatory melodrama ensued. Behind all of this, hidden amongst the piles of Shep Smith-induced pseudo-controversial-tales-of-hope-tearful-interview drivel, the real heroes in this sad story emerged.

Yesterday, three more miners lost their lives during the dangerous, hopeless search for what would surely be dead bodies. Again, I know nothing about mining. Certainly there are enough experts in mining disasters out there to be able to analyze a collapse and render a very educated guess as to the probability of survival as each day passes. Someone in authority has to realize that as the probability approaches zero, the risk/benefit ratio of continuing with a dangerous rescue approaches an untenable level. Imagine what the families of the original six miners must now endure. Mingled with their unthinkable grief from the loss of their loved ones is this: "Was I so consumed with my own loss that I did not realize the risk others were taking for my sake? Could I have saved additional lives by putting aside my fear and accepting the inevitable, in order to save other families from the same grief?"

Human beings are more emotional than pragmatic, and that is good I suppose. I feel sure that if I were a miner in that Utah mine...I would have been right there with those three men looking for my lost brothers below. And for that, they are the true heroes. But if I was the father or sibling of one of the six lost in the first collapse, I hope I would be outspoken in opposing the continuing futile efforts at rescue if further lives were at risk.

"And the shame, was on the other side

Oh we can beat them, for ever and ever

Then we could be Heroes, just for one day"

David Bowie