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By Thomas C. Davis Jr | July 8, 2008
The year was 1971 and the nation’s highways were disgusting garbage cans. Everywhere you looked, litter was strewn along the roadside in massive amounts. To those of you who are not old enough to remember, imagination can hardly work to show you the truth as it was; and to those who are old enough I challenge to find exaggeration in my words. We, as a nation, had no conscience when it came to litter.In fact, the term “litter” was coined at that time. There were no litter cans and no laws against littering. It was quite common place to be driving along the highway and toss your trash out the window. We did however, have a slightly different attitude when we were driving in residential areas - but not much of one!It got so bad that it was like a sharp slap in the face on a cold winter’s morning. We finally opened our eyes to the beautifully constructed highways strewn with trash. The term “letter bug” was next coined and strongly given a derogatory spin. Laws were quickly passed in most states that authorized hefty fines.Some fedreral office (I don’t know which one) funded a campaign to counter the mindset that gave our moral compass allowance to litter. Hollywood came to the rescue.The commercial began with a shot a Native American, dressed in dear skins, a man of nature, canoeing down a beautiful stream. He sits tall, rowing proudly, keeping his canoe straight. We next see some trash in the water as he rows past. In the background appear smoke stacks billowing plumes of black smoke into the air. He comes ashore with his canoe, the beach specaled with trash. He walks to the edge of a highway where a passing car tosses some trash that lands by his feet. He turns to look at the camera. His face is a strong face, one that is a friend of pride and could rarely show weakness. A tear, so out of place, so hard fought against, slips down his cheek. That ad touched the heart of everyone that watched it. It aired for several years and so succesful was it that one could actually see the difference it made within a couple of years. Litter quickly became a thing of the past. Today, I am proud to look back at what was and see what we have done. No people is perfect in their habits and ways but as a nation we have really cleaned up our act as far as littering is concerned. I applaud you, every one of you. I experienced the country before the anti-littering campaign and see it now in its success. I see also proof that we can overcome the destructive ways that harm our environment. Global warming can also become a thing of the past. Polluted waters gone! Choking smog cleaned up into fresh air!
Topics: Environment, General |
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