I live near busy railroad tracks. This is not new for me. I have heard trains long warning blasts from my bedroom windows before. Right now there is an active train-crossing between home and work that occasionally stops me in a line as we watch graffitied train-car after graffitied train-car rumble past. I bring all this up to say that the only difference between where I live and East Palestine, Ohio is that the derailment happened there and not here… so far.
I had an opportunity to view the Ohio governor’s press conference today (two weeks after the accident) and it frankly left me sad.
Here is why.
It is a cover up.
It is not honestly addressing the real problems involved in this particular accident involving the “controlled” burn of toxic chemicals that potentially run both longterm and short term health risks for thousands who, like me, live close enough to railroad tracks to be affected by such events. Who decided this was a good idea and did they have the proper authority to order this be done? So far, still not clear. Right now fingers are pointing away from everyone in front of a camera and microphone.
I think, and perhaps I’m just cynical, that had this derailment happened near Ohio’s capital city, Columbus, or our nation’s capital, Washington DC, it would have been handled much differently, even if the same people were in charge. This ties to my post two days ago. There is a chasm that exists between people when they do not have a concept about what it means for all humans to be made in God’s image. This results in much of the callousness seen throughout history and that we see in public officials today.
One final thought or observation. The Ohio governor had two experts also speak at this press conference. One was a physician who was heading the public health recovery activities for the state and the other was someone overseeing the mental health crisis response.
They both said the expected things about how they are mobilizing resources and are there for those who need them, and the rest. Why it fell flat for me is that it was too little too late. The idea of transparency cannot work in any crisis unless it was in place and obvious before any troubles began. It is not possible to earn trust starting in an after-the-fact press conference. The same is true in all our relationships as well.
Trust is earned by consistently telling and living the truth. I’m not saying we can never make mistakes, but when we do it is wise to proactively come clean and tell the truth. I’m not saying we should always spill our guts to everyone all the time, but I am saying that trust and truth are a forged link.
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Proverbs 8:1-7 (ESV)
I, too, live near railroad tracks; and I have contemplated the idea the OH disaster could easily have been in my “hood”. I agree the handling was abysmal & unconscionable. We have devolved to a culture that easily devalues those created in God’s image when they get in the way of amassing the images printed on paper.