Don't be a slob

I recently returned to Bloomington after several years. On my return, I brought my wife who had never spent much time here. At first brush, Bloomington struck her as a pretty town. Wonderfully maintained architecture, excellent parks and, of course, the verdant skyline all contributed to an initial impression that impressed even the skeptical viewer I had brought with me. \nComing down College Avenue and turning off onto our side street, she remarked how surprisingly cute she found my town. Unfortunately, when she got out of the car, she spotted an unopened Miller can abandoned on a stone fence and an empty Doritos bag tossed casually into a bush. \nWe walked many miles after that, and every one was the same. The town had many little nooks and crannies that delighted her, but she found just as many littered with discarded refuse. After a while, my wife asked me, "Why don't these slobs just pick up after themselves?" \nI gave her the only answer I could. "I have no idea."\nTake a stroll around the downtown area. See how much trash you can spot cast casually about. You can even make a game of it if you like. First one to find five beer bottles wins. You might be surprised at how many rounds of the game you can get in before you get home.\nI have been taken aback by the casual mistreatment with which our city streets are treated. I have seen trash casually tossed about. I have seen it neatly piled into corners on the sidewalk. I have seen it wedged into cracks in the wall. I have often seen it decorating shrubs or intermingled with ivy. It could almost be artistic in a way, if it weren't so juvenile and annoying.\nMy wife and I are trying to do our little bit. We try to pick up at least a few pieces of trash every time we head out and throw them into one of the many rubbish bins our city has provided for us. We are, in the end, but two people. Though I have no concrete evidence to back this up, I'm fairly certain there are more than two people who contribute to our litter problem. \nPart of the issue might be our youthfulness -- according to recent U.S. Census population numbers, 55 percent of our city's population is 24 or younger. It's a commonly held perception that younger folks are not considered or expected to be as "responsible" to the greater civic community. That does not excuse it, though. Even a three-year-old knows you're not supposed to leave your messes behind you. \nAs college students, we are expected to act with at least a modicum of awareness for the greater community. Taking responsibility for the space in front of your place would be an excellent first step for those guilty of contributing to the mess.\nBloomington, my friends, is a nice town. It is not a landfill. So throw your damn trash in the can, not on the street.