One of the headlines in our local newspaper caught my attention. It spoke of a "silver lining" in the midst of oil spill disaster. That "silver lining" is JOBS. Boat captains are needed and being paid good money. Crews to do clean up are also needed and being paid more than twenty dollars an hour. The clean up work is described as being difficult but worthwhile.
I am sorry, but NOTHING, not even the prospect of jobs, can make anything about the oil spill beneficial. There is no "silver lining", not even more jobs, that can even put the slightest dent in the immediate and long-term devastation that spill has caused and will continue to cause. For any newspaper or news agency to suggest that there is good in all of this is wishful thinking at best and foolishness at worst.
I did not have the chance to read the whole article, which was continued in the "MONEY" section of the newspaper. I happened to see the newspaper in a machine outside the restaurant where I work. Perhaps there is more in the article which covers the dangerous affects of the spill, but as it was continued in the "MONEY" section, I am guessing the focus was on what the writer sees as the positive - the "silver lining".
The "silver lining" approach of the newspaper article is no different that the BP executives who defend themselves by suggesting that the oil spill is similar to a "drop in the bucket" because of the size of the ocean. Those who support oil drilling have made similar statements, including suggesting that the oils spills are such a small percentage of all oil drilled that there is no need to stop drilling.
The problem is, of course, that ANY oil spilled is too much!