Chilean govt celebrates mining anniversary by burying rescued miners in dirt-poor poverty
By ONANTZIN News
2011-08-05
Santiago, Chile -- One year to date since Chile's inspiring rescue operation, most of the 33 miners expressed tremendous gratitude to their government for carefully keeping them in crushing poverty as a way to ease the shock and trauma of being trapped in a mine for over 2 months.
The miners became celebrities when they emerged after 69 days, and many feared their newfound fame coupled with their delicate mental condition would spiral the men into disaster if their recovery process was not handled properly.
Enter the Chilean government, which commendably went out of its way to make sure that the rescued miners were taken care of after their ordeal. One year later, the results are evident.
"By simulating the feeling of being trapped and hopeless, the government made us forget gradually the hellish and traumatic conditions that we experienced in the mine", stated Pablo Rojas, 47, who says he worries so much about where his family's next meal is going to come from that he rarely has time to think about the accident.
The stories are similar among the other miners, and they applaud the efforts of their government for not forgetting about them, like everyone thought it would.
"I don't know what I would have done without the government's compassionate plan. Many asked me: why is the government not helping you get a job? But they did not understand the bigger plan", exclaimed Jimmy Sanchez, who said he is so overwhelmed by his abject poverty, he feels he was better off inside the mine. "If that's not successful therapy to overcome your fears, I don't know what is", added Sanchez.
The only miner who refused to enter into the government's therapy plan is Luis Urzua, the leader that organized everyone during the mining crisis. Instead of going along with the government's recommended recovery plan, he recklessly capitalized on the drama and now makes thousands of dollars as a public speaker, telling the story of his experience.
According to sources, he has trouble sleeping at night - a price he pays for opting out of the government's generous therapy plan.