I spent some time Saturday picking up trash along Washington Road as part of the Thomson Rotary Club's annual clean-up effort.
The clean-up is timed, of course, to make the community's beauty and cleanliness peak just in time for the Masters.
But there's one group who thinks our community's aesthetics hold little value.
As I filled my black trash bag, I noticed one thing: the bulk of what I was picking up was cigarette butts. Hundreds of them.
And along the way, the pointlessness of it all hit me.
There's absolutely no reason I should have had to pick up a single cigarette butt. The last time I checked, they still put ashtrays in cars. Do they also need to include an instruction manual with them?
I've been a very vocal supporter of a local smoking ban, mainly because I firmly believe it is about consideration: I don't have a problem with people smoking; I just don't think non-smokers should be subjected to their smoke in public places.
I feel the same way about cigarette butts. People that wantonly toss their butts out of car windows should learn a little consideration. They should be more considerate of their community. They should be more considerate of those that strive to keep their community clean. And they should be considerate to other smokers -- those who are considerate enough to properly dispose of their butts.
Bottom line: If you are going to kill yourself one puff at a time, at least be considerate enough to your community to keep your butts to yourself.
