Disasters and calamities are times when the gist of a nation, the gist of a community and the gist of a society are put to test. The Soma mining disaster, which took about 300 souls from us, was a grand test for the people of this country, and the nation as a whole passed this test with flying colors.Some evil and malice lead to blessings, and Soma was such an example. The nation united around this deep pain, and people all across the country acted as if they had lost a loved one.The nation rallied for support in many different ways. Banks erased the debts of the deceased workers, delayed the payments of those who survived. People collected aid for the families of the victims.The nation prayed for the victims and their families, while charitable gestures were abundant. The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the opposition conservative Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) declared a ceasefire and went out of their way to help ease the deep pains afflicted by Soma. Their statements and actions deserved full marks thanks to the mature attitudes of CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli.The government on its part also put up a good performance, rushing to the aid of the families of the victims, while Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız received good marks even from the opposition parties for his round the clock effort to supervise the coordination and execution of the rescue efforts. Now is the time to bury our dead, try to ease the pain of their loved ones, rally support for the wounded and the workers who survived but are hit by a great trauma. Then will come the period of healing. After that a serious post mortem will be needed.In the post mortem Turkey has to seriously review its safety procedures, but more than that, it has to see to it that no matter how strict the rules are they have to be put into practice and be properly monitored. What has happened in the mine in Soma was not a force majeure. It was clearly the result of a deficiency, and this deficiency cost the lives of hundreds of people, making this the worst mining disaster in Turkish history in this day and age when we are boasting about our use of high technology. Turkey has to look into the fact that it has one of the worst records in mining accidents and deaths and take China as an example in minimizing its loses.In the post mortem Turkish authorities have to launch a transparent and wide ranging investigation into the incident that will satisfy the nation. The inspectors and experts looking into the incident have to turn over every stone, and whoever is found guilty should be punished in the toughest possible terms.The post mortem should also cover the attitude of various sectors that raise hell after each disaster and then forget about it in a few months. Soma should never be forgotten. Politicians, bureaucrats, employers, trade unions and last but not least the media all have to do their share to improve the situation and keep Soma alive so that we do not suffer another such calamity.Trade union bosses should push for stringent measures and new innovative techniques instead of playing politics. Employers should realize that they have to spend more on human safety as well as enlist more professional miners with better pay to secure safer mining activities. Politicians should put aside their squabbling and push for effective and meaningful measures. Bureaucrats should realize that when you do not enforce strict measures the cost for them will be incredibly high. And the media should realize that instead of using this tragedy to sell more newspapers and attract more TV viewers with tragic scenes they should keep the fire of Soma alive in the minds of the nation and thus maintain the pressure on all concerned to do something and prevent new Somas in the future.