"For we are all family. We are Americans."

[Clio the Leo]

I have the feeling that last line has a larger meaning, has more to do than just this recent tragedy.

Advance excerpts from the eulogy President Obama will deliver tonight at the Upper Big Branch Mine Memorial Service in West Virginia:

“All the hard work. All the hardship. All the time spent underground. It was all for their families. For a car in the driveway. For a roof overhead. For a chance to give their kids opportunities they never knew; and enjoy retirement with their wives. It was all in the hopes of something better. These miners lived – as they died – in pursuit of the American dream.”

…
Reduce...
“In the days following the disaster, emails and letters poured into the White House. Postmarked from different places, they often begin the same way: ‘I am proud to be from a family of miners,’ ‘I am the son of a coal miner,’ ‘I am proud to be a coal miner’s daughter.’ They ask me to keep our miners in my thoughts. Never forget, they say, miners keep America’s lights on. Then, they make a simple plea: don’t let this happen again.

…

“We cannot bring back the 29 men we lost. They are with the Lord now. Our task, here on Earth, is to save lives from being lost in another such tragedy. To do what must be done, individually and collectively, to assure safe conditions underground. To treat our miners the way they treat each other – like family. For we are all family. We are Americans.”

http://www.politico.com/politico44/wbarchive/whiteboard04252010.html

The memorial is scheduled for 3:30pm EDT

[Meeker Morgan]

1. Nice thought. Too bad it's not true. n/t

[Dr Morbius]

2. What's not true? That we are all "family" or that we are all "Americans"? (nt)

[Igel]

9. Probably intended that some aren't really Americans.

I'd interpret it as "not really a eulogy."

No praise for them as individuals, or as a group that doesn't include hundreds of others. Generic wrt coal miners. Moreover, the main emphasis wasn't on praising the dead but calling to political action, as focused on saying good as saying bad.

But "eulogy" sounds nice and cozy and empathetic, and makes for far better press. And who's going to be a stickler about little things like word meanings when there are politics afoot?

[Cali_Democrat]

6. Please explain. n/t

[Thrill]

8. Birther?

[babylonsister]

3. This will be heartbreaking. I'm glad our President will be delivering

this eulogy.

"Don't Let This Happen Again".

[senseandsensibility]

4. Kick for the miners

:cry:

[Phx_Dem]

5. I had the same thought, but it may just be because we've been

hearing so much anti-American rhetoric directed toward Obama, to actually hear him say "We are Americans" stood out. Which is really sad that we have to be shocked when the President of the United States makes a simple statement about all of us being Americans.

[Cha]

7. KR