We need to support our home state

In a place where President Barack Obama was very unpopular, in a time when some have tried to politicize the tragedy that happened in the Upper Big Branch mine, Obama made the nation proud. In the first time in more than 40 years the president of the United States came along with his vice president to the great state of West Virginia.

One of the duties of the president is to mourn when tragedy happens to a community. Although there has been great debate on this administrative position toward the coal industry, Obama rose above the politics and became citizen and chief.

Above and beyond does not do this subject justice. The president paid his respects to the families for their loved ones who tragically passed away and mourned with all West Virginians for the loss. It wasn't a job for him. He cared as a citizen of this nation.

I want to thank all those who celebrated the lives of these men who lost their lives while earning a living for their families. We as a state clearly came together, but the president showed that the nation as a whole had come together to mourn the loss.

I am proud to be a West Virginian. To me, this is home. I say this to not state the obvious, but rather to show my pride as a West Virginian before that of being an American. I am proud to be both equally.

Too often I hear the lack of opportunity complaints in regards to this state. When the skilled and educated citizens leave a state due to "lack of opportunity," there will be no new opportunities. We hold the future of this state in our hands. We must struggle to not hold self-interest above the state we were born into. We are a product of this Appalachian home, where many of us were raised.  We owe it to our native state to bring greater opportunities for ourselves and future generations.

The truth is, there has been a great deal of failure in past generations of West Virginia. Many of the best and brightest left without a second thought. Job opportunities just weren't high enough for them. Now it will soon be our turn. We can take the easy road and walk someone else's path in a state that does not suffer as ours has. That is the path of least resistance.

I would like to offer something different. We need to bring the spirit of hope to our home state. We need to start our own businesses, lobby the government to make it easier for business to come here and change the course of this state to make a brighter future for the children of West Virginia.

We can make a difference. It may make it harder for us all, but it is a road someone must take. If we aren't willing to stand by our home state, then who will? I support the industries that are here now, but we need more jobs. We need better paying jobs. The people of West Virginia deserve a brighter future. I believe that if we make it our goal to see that future realized, by our hands things will start to change.

Contact Jay Roudebush at roudebush1@marshall.edu.