Bill Forhan’s commentary, ‘Green Policy’s Legacy of Waste’ triggered thoughts of old when we used to frown on shortcuts; when a “let it burn” policy was never in play.

My thoughts meandered to remember how this little tot of eight or ten years of age would be in awe watching what then seemed a mile long bright gleaming red fire engine (truck). Men seemed to claw to it hanging on all sides, their heads all facing in one direction, forward; all cloaked in black rain resistant gear. The large coils of hose looked like the huge reptiles I used to see in the reptile house at the Bronx Zoo.

Today, it seems the way of doing anything is to try to do it without doing it, while justifying the not doing as the wise recourse to a solution.

I reach into my mind’s eye and memory of coming home from school to see mama leaning over a washboard, rinsing heavy water-laden sheets in the dual washtubs found in many large kitchens. No utility room and no electric washer and dryer. Yet, today one often hears, “I’ve got to do laundry today” with the hope that there might be a pending good excuse to put it off for another day. Throwing them in and pulling them out would be too much work!

I keep a miniature washboard on the wall of my utility room to remind me of the then and now. We have become the more lazy society. No longer do we take care in folding carefully the corners of sheets in making a bed as now we have contoured bottom sheets. Don’t have to fuss much with today’s cameras; just push a button. Some cameras can be thrown away after one use. No flash bulbs to attach. No think; easy does it generation. Don’t fix; just throw it away. To each his own. I, however still use my 43-year-old typewriter. When my personal reference library doesn’t give me answers; the library reference section in our region comes forth via telephone.

The let it burn policy, throw-aways and lazy ways are not for me. Mama would always say, “If you must do something, get it done, get it done now and get it done right.” As for the “green” policy…it’s a misnomer; certainly the wrong color…try the ash policy.

Thank you Bill Forhan for an insightful article. You express what many were thanking about “green.”

Respectfully submitted,

Marya Silverthorn