I've participated in more than a few trash collections in recent years, usually for my church. Normally, you and your lonely crew get out early on a summer morning before the heat builds up, armed with gloves and large plastic bags. Sporting those flimsy green "safety" vests, you walk down the littered highway, dodging cars and snatching up cans and other debris in the cause of doing good for the environment.
But never, never, have I had a trash day like today!
This time I was walking down Broadway in Granville this morning with my grabber and big orange bag, snagging muddy candy wrappers and squashed plastic bottles. But, for once I had an audience -- nay, a cheering section! Thousands of spectators lined the sidewalks watching as I plucked and bagged, some even running out into the street to happily stuff a soiled scrap into my sagging sack.
I love a parade, especially when I'm in it.
In this 4th of July parade, local Democrats this year decided to go green, building a float on the theme of environmental cleanup, a task the Licking County Democratic Club has taken on in recent years. So I was one of several club members walking along side the float, pinching up candy wrappers, doing as we preach.
To be honest, most of the thousands who lined the parade route were probably not as taken with my trash-grab ballet as they were with the large Obama banner being carried in front of me. Unlike in 2004, when area Republicans rained down catcalls on our parade, this year's candidate got all cheers and no jeers.
And at the Democratic booth at the Granville Festival following the parade, there was a steady trickle of people stopping by to pick up Obama stickers. More than a few signed on as volunteers.
A trash-pickers holiday, to be sure. But there's a lot of political debris left over from 8 years of Republican rule, so it felt good to get out there and begin the clean-up process, one wrapper, one voter, at a time. And it's nice to be cheered in the effort!
(Gray Hunter)
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