This made me sad...but what can ya do?

[badgerpup]

I was at my local Mental Health center today, and noticed a flyer about one of the satellite centers was taking stuff for recycling. "Plastics" had been crossed off.

I'll admit, I've got a bug up my ass about recycling. I went up to the desk and talked to the receptionist about the flyer. The local recycling centers ARE taking plastics (H₂O bottles, soda bottles, etc.,) as a 'donation only' item. They're not paying for them, but they're taking them and recycling them. Same with cardboard.
We got to talking, and I fell into (gently inform and) lecture mode: "It's scary how much plastic we use. No, seriously. Save it for a few days to take in and you'll be amazed how much it adds up....
I keep thinking about that huge island of plastic in the Pacific".
"You're kidding, right?"
"Nope...Google it. You'll see."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_Garbage_Patch

And here's the sad part. There was this older guy was standing by, listening...and contributes to the conversation: "It's the Communists."
Me (shining with my strength of ten because my heart was pure and my head was dumb): "No, it's us. WE did it."
He got a bit heated. "It's the COMMUNISTS! Trying to poison OUR WATER!!."

I looked...really LOOKED at him. Older guy (to me, at least...late 60s, early 70s). Kinda stooped, using a cane. Heavy, black-rimmed glasses. Shabby looking...not 'homeless-shabby', but 'lives alone and doesn't really care about his appearance' shabby.
Probably a veteran, too...he just had that 'feel'.
That's what made me leave it right there...although there were so many 'logical' arguments one could have made about why it was NOT 'the Communists' fault (and even if it WAS 'the Communists', does that mean that we're excused from doing anything about it? Even though it's affecting us?).
I wouldn't have gotten through. He knew what he knew, and nothing was going to change it.

I think one of the things he 'knew' was that everything and anything in his personal world that was wrong, bad, changed, etc., was the fault of 'the Communists'.


I just hope that some of the other people in the lobby who aren't so positive about what they know are doing some thinking about recycling stuff tonight...:shrug:
Even if they don't get paid for it.

[KrR]

1. ooops misread this

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. 81 posts in two days

That's a record, dude.

Enjoy your stay. :hi:

[KrR]

3. You too.

[KrR]

5. You average over 31 per day...

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. LOL I see you edited your post

Good move.

I've been here 6 years. My advice would be to avoid the snark until you are here a bit longer than two days. :hi:

[KrR]

7. Why not avoid the snark yourself?

[sudopod]

8. IMMA CHARGIN MAH POST COUNT!!!!! nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Yep. You nailed it.

:)

[demosincebirth]

4. Ya can't discuss anything with those Birchers

[mdmc]

9. knr