And all litterbugs shall be squashed
I try to be a tolerant person. We all have pet peeves and admittedly, I have quite a list. People who play their car music so loud I can hear it in my office. People with bad cell phone manners. Those who allow their animals to run the town without proper restraint.
However, there is probably nothing that yanks my chain more than litterbugs.
While crews in the cities work diligently to keep our in-town streets free of trash, ride any country road and you will find evidence of those who think it is okay to chuck their fast food trash/empty cans/you name it from their car windows and truck rear compartments.
I often wonder about how folks’ brains can disconnect and believe something we all know to be wrong but still do it anyway. I mean, can’t you hear the little inside the brain conversation:
“Gee, that super-sized meal sure made a lot of trash and I am about to pick up (insert girl’s name of choice) and she won’t be happy to see that I needed a little pre-dinner dinner. Let me just chuck this evidence out the window. Somebody will come pick it up soon.”
Surely that is how it goes, right?
I know for the last 10 years the Chamber of Commerce has backed and promoted their “Stash your Trash” campaign. I have even seen poor Rock Ouzts and Randy Weitzel don the none-too-cool, Seymore Trash costume at the Striped Bass Festival and Kids Day. They are such good sports and the kids love the character.
So, can we all agree that throwing your trash on the roadside is not a good thing and in fact, it is just wrong, wrong, wrong? Can I get an amen?
So, what is up with all the litter? Check out the lake road or Raccoon Road in Manning. Check out Hwy. 301 on the way to Summerton or north on the way to Turbeville. Unless you are traveling on one of the roads one of the many dedicated “Adopt a Highway” groups have recently cleaned, you are likely to find trash.
The High Commander attended a meeting last week where the Chamber of Commerce has gathered again to renew their war on litter. When he told me who was at the meeting I knew we were back on track. God bless them, the Chamber was successful once and I believe they can be successful again.
Chamber President Jake Buddin asked Chamber Board member Sam Levy to chair a committee to take on the massive challenge.
County Recycling Queen Madeline Braxton, Clarendon Chief Litter Deputy Hal Kennedy, S.C. State Trooper Britt Parker and Manning Public Works Director Rubin Hardy signed on. Clarendon School District 2 loyalists Tod Heldreth and Tonia Mallett Smith agreed to help with the youth effort. Dawn Griffith and Ericka Sexton from the Chamber were on hand. Rick Richardson from Sub Station II, Louis Griffith from the Bank of Clarendon, Jake, Sam and the H.C. spent an hour hashing out how to proceed with a renewed effort.
The group decided a big part of the answer lies with the kids. This year’s Kid’s Day will be devoted to the Stash Your Trash theme. I hope they take their message to all the schools and try to instill the anti-litter message into every child.
I have a friend who once witnessed the occupants of the vehicle in front of her littering and she chased them down to chastise them. I am not sure that was the smartest of moves on her part but boy do I admire her bravery.
Peer pressure is probably the best cure for promoting the anti-litter message. Don’t tolerate it in your friends or family and certainly don’t be a litterbug yourself.
Another pet peeve besides litterbugs - bugs. I know they are God’s creatures and all, but nothing makes me happier than seeing one get squashed.
That’s all bugs – except butterflies. They’re special.
