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Why CNN’s Van Jones Marched With Trump-Supporting Coal Miners
A valuable lesson to prevent America from imploding
I had the good fortune of meeting CNN’s Van Jones recently.
Now, I’ve never been one to get all excited to meet a celebrity, but I always admired Jones for his rare ability to hold space for more than one group of people at a time. While the rest of us are at each other’s throats.
There aren’t many of us, especially television talking heads, who are able to see the humanity in all people. Or to say what’s on their mind and speak the truth regardless of whether it will help or hurt their public image.
Not so for Jones.
To be sure, Jones is liberal. His values and policy preferences bend left toward love, respect, dignity, and peace.
But those values are in service to the broad goals of justice and humanity for all, not just the select few groups who fit nicely under the Democratic Party or other political banner.
That’s why, when West Virginia miners, who had spent decades a mile below the ground digging coal so we could keep our lights on — all at the high risk of contracting black lung disease — Jones marched with them when their employer destroyed their pension.
