Trash Talk

The pop can, the crumbled up tissue, the Albertsons' bag, the Snickers' wrapper, and the McDonalds paper bag. We have all seen them, stepped on them, or walked around them. Our minds have subconsciously calculated the spot where the half eaten Big Mac was flung from the car window, as we examined the Mcfries travel path on the road. This garbage is everywhere. Who is doing it? More importantly why are they just throwing it on the ground, when they could be throwing it into a bag that will be hauled off and then put under the ground?

As I often ponder over this question and weigh the reasons as to why they do this, I'm quick to think they must hate Mother Nature. They love their mothers enough, not to throw their waste on the carpet inside her home. They give their mothers Mother's Day cards and the men honor her, being called Momma’s Boys. Yet, when was the last time anyone did anything for Mother Nature on Earth Day? Those who love Mother Nature are not even named after her; they instead are called Tree Huggers. Apparently Mother Nature is some faceless woman, whose words go unheard, but whose wrath is felt seasonally.

However, it’s been said that imitation is the biggest form of flattery. Some might argue that Mother Nature herself is a literer. With autumn, she gets sick and tired of her leaves and flowers only to cast them off for someone else to rake up and put in plastic bags to be hauled off to the dump. Winter's waste, Snow, covers the streets, forcing someone else to shovel, plow, and lift it away. Mankind learns from its Mothers.

Mother Nature is like most mothers. She has her scornful seasons, but she is quick to forgive. She does her housework. The leaves decompose, snow melts away, and dead animals are consumed. Mother Nature's fabulous friend fungi eat away tuff trash and rain rinses sticky stains away. If Mother Nature didn't do her job those litterers would be different. Litterers rely so much on Mother and her faithfulness, that it's easy to simply toss that cigarette carton out the window. They know she will come for it. I mean she’s Mother Nature.

Most litterers are rarely seen saying “Take that Mother Nature,” as they slam the plastic bottle on the ground. Instead very quietly, with a wave of the hand or the soft release from the fingers the rubbish free falls to the ground. All of those plastic white straws, foil granola bar wrappers, and krumpled K-Mart ads are just little reminders to Mother. Each litter letters the testament, “I love you Mother Nature.” Litterers: Lovers of Mother Nature or just plain lazy?