Letter to the Editor

Local man livid about littering
 
Letter to the Editor:
 
     This note is directed to the young man and his mother who dumped trash at the order window of McDonald’s on Sept. 2.
     You should know that there are several well-maintained containers, within steps, for the trash you couldn’t apparently bear to have in your car. It’s my job to make sure of that. So, no excuse.
     I have to say that I’m ashamed of you both and also horribly disappointed. Maybe you don’t have enough time to cook a decent meal for your child, and maybe he doesn’t have enough time to get out of the car and dispose of the trash appropriately. Do you have any idea what you’re teaching him?
     You’re both fortunate in several ways. It’s good for you that I became so upset when I witnessed this crime (yes, crime) that I failed to record your plate number. It’s also good for you that I had the sense of mind to realize I was representing a business at the time, instead of myself and all other Hampton residents and visitors. Because if not, I’m confident that my language and actions would most likely have been far more severe. It was just unfortunate for you that I was on my break.
     I’ll never apologize for the minor mess I made of your car when I finally caught up to you at the pick-up window. I’ve already apologized to the McDonald’s staff members who were working at the time for any distrubance or alarm I may have caused. My disturbance and alarm were directed at you, and I would have chased you further if need be to make my point. And my point is this…
     I am saddened to watch a whole generation get so hooked on technology that they lose total touch with the concept of simple respect. May God help us restore and teach the Golden Rule. I wonder how many of our youth can recite it.
     I understand your silence as I was berating your son and your car. I may have looked scary, but rest assured, you have far greater fears in your future should things not change. We sometimes reap what we sow. I pray we never meet again.
 
Darrel Walterman
Hampton