Everywhere I go, I see trash and litter strewn about. Even out in the woods, like these beer cans I saw along the Little River in Westfield. What makes people think it's OK to just toss their trash anywhere, as if it goes away once it's out of their sight?
When I was a kid (back in the dark ages), there was a famous commercial with a Native American looking out over a sea of litter, and a single tear running down his cheek. There was also one with an animated owl who said, "Give a hoot, don't pollute!" Apparently environmentalism is something that my generation didn't pass along to its children.
Surely there are a lot of people who feel the way I do. Who really wants to see trash along the sidewalks and roads? Are people really that self-involved that they don't even notice? No, don't answer that, I know what the answer is.
What I think we should do is bring back public shame. Hey, it's worked for several police departments in combating prostitution; why not for littering? The smaller and more closely-knit the community, the better it would work.
Try it: the next time you see someone drop trash, shake your head and say, "Shame on you!" Toot your horn at that car tossing cigarette butts out the window. If you see a child drop trash on the ground, condescendingly inform them that that is not acceptable in a civilized society. Didn't your mother teach you better than that?
Even if it makes a little bit of difference, it's worth it. Pass it on.
2 comments:
Hey Elizabeth, good job starting this 2nd blog. I've been thinking about doing the same thing, as an outlet for other more personal or more political views that don't really fit into the first blog...
Heh, thanks! I should do a better job of posting things here, though. ;)
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