Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Earth Day and Being Green


I got this email and wanted to share...

> 
> *How Wasteful the Older Generation Was ... *
>
> In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should
> bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the
> environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have
> the green thing back in my day."
>
> The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did
> not care enough to save our environment."
>
> He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day.
>
> Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles
> to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and
> sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over.
> So they really were recycled.
>
> But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day.
>
> In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator
> in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and
> didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two
> blocks.
>
> But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day.
>
> Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the
> throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling
> machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the
> clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not
> always brand-new clothing.
>
> But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her
> day.
>
> Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every
> room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a hankerchief, not a
> screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and
> stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do
> everything for you.
>
> When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded
> up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
>
> Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut
> the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised
> by
> working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills
> that operate on electricity.
>
> But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then.
>
> They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup
> or
> a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their
> writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the
> razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just
> because the blade got dull.
>
> But they didn't have the green thing back then.
>
> Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to
> school or rode the school bus instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour
> taxi service.
> They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to
> power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to
> receive a
> signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find
> the nearest pizza joint.
>
> But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks
> were just because they didn't have the green thing back then?

7 comments:

ancient one said...

I'm one of those old folks...

Renie Burghardt said...

I'm one of those old folks as well! We sure were a wastefull bunch, weren't we?

Goin to bed early. The storms didn't get too bad last night, but the tornado watch went until 2 AM, and I was scared to go to sleep.

ancient one said...

Well you should sleep well tonight! Pleasant Dreams...

Little Penpen said...

that's good!

Debbie J said...

This is exactly right!!! The present generation is all instant gratification, disposable, and spoiled!

Sandi McBride said...

This is the best post I've read today...and so true it's painful! Happy Easter my friend!
hugs
Sandi

Marsha Young said...

This post gave me a good smile, and lots to reflect upon.

That "green thing" isn't always all it is cracked up to be, is it?