Litterbugs
In a recent piece entitled, "Suspicious junk," I mentioned that while hiking in southern Arizona, I had found several discarded items I associated with illegal border-crossing activity. That hike was in fairly hilly, rocky terrain. On a subsequent hike in the flat, softer part of the desert, where traveling is much easier, I spotted an astonishing number of large empty plastic bottles--some with labels in Spanish, as in the photo. I saw other types of junk, too, such as clothing, but the bottles were the most numerous and conspicuous. Although I didn't keep count, I estimate the total at 30-40. If that quantity over my three-mile hike is representative, the Sonoran Desert as a whole must contain many thousands of empty bottles.
I believe I'm making a reasonable assumption that the bottles were tossed aside by illegal immigrants (I also sighted many foot tracks, all heading north). Of course, I was already aware from news articles that illegal immigrants were leaving trash in their wake, but to see it first-hand was a shock. The Sonoran Desert is such a beautiful, peaceful place; disgust and anger mounted as I came across bottle after bottle.
Apologists might point out these people are hoping for a better way of life, that littering is insignificant compared with the other risks they're taking. But a principle is involved. Common sense and common decency say that if you want to partake of another man's bounty, you don't start off by tossing trash onto his turf. Such disrespect is not the way to make a good first impression. It's not the way to reassure Americans about future behavior, and it's not the way to persuade Congress to loosen our immigration laws.
Experts advise desert travelers to carry plenty of water. Too bad illegal immigrants don't also hear a few words from experts on manners and public relations.
2 Comments:
I did not see this last week. The trash left behind by the illegals is a BIG problem. It is bigger than us. I appreciate your statements about common decency. Thank you.
By Anonymous, at January 13, 2007 12:05 PM
We have traveled the USA for the past three years in our travel trailer and spent about 1/3 of that time in the southwest. One only has to take a short walk in from a camping area anywhere near the mexican border in the desert to see bottles, clothes, trash, etc. lying around. We have seen fences cut, "camps" under roads and railroad trestles(sp?), strewn garbage everywhere. I know, "they are only seeking a better life" but what they really want is to come to the 'big store'. Our schools are being overwhelmed, our hospitals can barely handle the deluge, parts of many, many southwestern US towns and cities have become completely Mexican where the illegals can totally disappear, and as soon as the anchor baby is born they are secure. When will people wake up and see this is an illegal invasion that will change the US forever. Unlike the immigrants from Europe, these do not want blend in to the existing society...but want to live, speak, etc. exactly as they did in Mexico while taking advantage of all the services that the US has to offer. There are MANY towns in southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas that are completely Mexican including all the signs on the public buildings. We tried to make a deposit at several Bank of America locations (our bank) and could not find anyone that could communicate in English. America, you will reap what you are sowing.
By Anonymous, at February 24, 2007 12:26 PM
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