Dear Editor,

The convergence of the lack of recycling interest and litter on the roadways with St. Patrick’s day brought to mind a story.

Years ago my mother-in law, Jean, got mad at me for some reason and called me lace curtain Irish. A good thing? Maybe not. In the mid-1800s this country was flooded with Irish immigrants who were considered the dregs of society and termed “shanty.” Those who tried to improve their image were called “lace curtain” because of among other things the window coverings they put up.

LaGrange has been called “America’s Greatest Little City” and touts museums, orchestras, choruses, higher education, clean industry, large recreational lake (sometimes), The Thread, good weather and in general a great place to raise a family and live in. Recycling was another step in the right direction. Who with half a brain and a modicum of education and responsibility would not support and be involved in recycling? Just because your great, great, granddaddy didn’t is no excuse. He used to put his waste in the water supply and then drink it. How did that work out? Why would you dump into the ground, or alongside the road, items which could be used again? Technology has even made recycling profitable, especially if everyone participates. And just how lazy do you have to be not to be able to put garbage in one bag and recyclables in another and then have someone pick up both? It’s just common sense that recycling and not littering make our community a better place to live for us now, and our children in the future.

This is not to say that there aren’t a lot of us who try to do the right thing. Evidence of this is in overflowing bins at the convenience centers. But there is strength in numbers.

Remember whether you like it or not we are all in this thing called life together. My solution would be to make it mandatory in both the city and county like other areas of the country did in the last century, but I don’t image that’s going to happen any time soon. So, what is it LaGrange? What are you going to do with all those bottles, cans and cardboard from that St. Patrick’s Day celebration? Are we lace curtain or shanty?

I wonder what Jean would have said if she were still alive.

Mike McBride
LaGrange