Titanic Post

After the game, the king and the pawn both go into the same box.

~ Italian saying

The death of twelve miners and one serious injury in West Virginia coal mine accident is but another reminder of our temporary presence on this planet. I was struck by a note written just before one of the miners died, saying that he was ready to die. The note’s tone was that of peaceful resignation. Other news stories stressed that death was a constant presence with the miners and their families, if not the mine owners. What struck me was the implied dignity and serenity in the face of death—in stark contrast to most American’s fear of death and dying.

Motorcyclist have a similar, although unspoken, closeness with death. Anytime a rider gets off his ride at speed there is an excellent chance of a fatality or serious injury. Because this possibility does go mostly unspoken, I’m not sure that it is universally accepted in the consciousness of riders that we could be killed at any time when we are on the road. I know that we all relish the excitement of riding which comes in part from the inherent danger, but if the possibility of death is accepted, I think it is pushed so far into the edge of the realm that it couldn’t be considered in the consciousness. Some are so bent on security that they are insecure. Others fear death.

Nietzsche said: The greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment of existence is: to live dangerously!

Miners live with death and without fear—one can hope that their lives are full.