What is it gonna take?

Democracy does not only exist in Egypt.

We should have an article in the next issue regarding the ongoing civil disobedience in Frankfort on behalf of the people and places, flora and fauna, of the Eastern Kentucky coal region (and all that lies downriver).Currently, between 10 and 14 citizens are staging a sit-in at Governor Beshear’s office to protest the destructive process of mountaintop removal mining.

Here’s a quote on getting people out for I Love Mountains Day this Monday, from an NoC interview with someone who provided initial backup support for the 14 citizens.

What is it gonna take? What is it gonna take for people to get out in the street if it’s not for poisoned water? If it’s not for your grandparents dying of cancer? If it’s not for destroying million years old mountains, for completely wrecking the economic future of a region? Then what is it? What is it gonna take for folks to wake the fuck up?

My sincere dearest hope is that there is gonna be one, two, three thousand people in Frankfort. You know, hopefully we have a more responsive government than Egypt. Hopefully we have a more responsive government than the guy who hadn’t had an election in thirty years. And hopefully we have the people to demand a better democracy.

A lot of college folks read this site. I hope you follow me in ditching class (both teachers and students), heading to I Love Mountains Day, and saying, “This is more important right now, right here.” Who knows, maybe both students and we teachers might make history rather than simply reading about it. (And if you do go, please tell us about it.)

The activists holed up on thin cheaply-carpeted floors in Frankfort this weekend are not heroes. They are not graced with superhuman skills. They are teachers and nurse practitioners, retired coal miners and state police radio technicians, filmmakers and students. They are you and me.

Except, thus far, they have showed up. Will you?

See you Monday.