Who is to blame?

Guest Editorial

The last two weeks have been very traumatic for communities in Minneapolis and Huntington, Utah. First, a major interstate freeway that carries thousands of daily travelers across the Mississippi River collapses.

Then a mine shaft caves in, trapping workers who go deep into the caverns on a daily basis. Each of these tragic events has a major impact on families and communities. In each situation, it is natural to jump to conclusions and ask the question - how could this happen?

As I tuned into national news last week, I was shocked to see the aftermath of the crash of a bridge that I crossed several times just a few months ago.

News reports cannot give us a real picture of how awful the experience must have been for those on the bridge. As I watched television and saw pictures sent in by bystanders, I could only imagine what people in those cars, buses, and trucks must have felt when they felt the earth collapse under them.

How could this happen?

Today's news gives us some information on how the recovery effort is going in Huntington, Utah. We know that there are six miners trapped and it may take days to get to them.

We do not know how it must have been when they saw the earth move above them. We only know that they are aware of the dangers of being a mine worker. Even so, they always hope that this will not happen.

While these two tragedies are not the same, they do have something in common. What is the same is that victims and family members of those who died are grieving and family members of the missing anxiously wait to hear about their loved ones.

While these two tragedies are not the same, we immethately jump to ask the same question - how could this happen?

We want answers and we want them now! But we can wait to figure out how this could happen. We can and should exercise patience while valiant and courageous rescue efforts continue.

As I watch the news reports, I see public servants such as police, firemen and women, emergency response workers and volunteers stepping up to save fives. I see divers risking their own fives to go deep into the Mississippi River hoping to find survivors.

I see rescue workers digging away at the concrete and earth that has buried the miners. Their first and only goal is to find human beings who may still be alive. They desperately hope for the best. The last question on their mind is - how could this happen?

In these days of the aftermath of these tragedies, I hope that we too can wait to answer the question of how could this happen. I suggest that we be patient. I hope we can wait with families in hope and support.

Yes, it is important to know who is to blame so that we can avoid it happening again. But for now - who" is to blame can wait until everything possible has been done to rescue survivors and recover the bodies of lives lost.

[Author Affiliation]

M. Linda Jaramillo is a minister for the United Church of Christ. The United Church of Christ has more than 5, 700 churches throughout the United States. Rooted in the Christian traditions of congregational governance and covenantal relationships, each UCC setting speaks only for itself and not on behalf of every UCC congregation. UCC members and churches are free to differ on important social issues, even as the UCC remains principally committed to unity in the midst of our diversity.