San Francisco, California – Follow the journeys in various countries for many years I wish to go home and hear these words from an immigration officer: “Happy return to the United States.”
There is something different during this time. After three weeks, two days in Doha and others in Vietnam, Hong Kong and Beijing, while I was happy to return home, I noticed a difference I didn’t notice before. We become a dirtier country. I don’t talk about smut or vulgar language, but real dirty.
Riding the plane of San Francisco, I noticed that Jetway Carpet was painted. “Welcome to California” is a sign to read. A double meaning, perhaps.
Public toilets are dirty. I saw the bathroom tissue on the floor, overflowing paper glasses, poling the rags of basin and puddles in a liquid I still can’t describe. Some toilets remain unfinished.
Terminal floors are carved and have a distinct atmosphere from what I am used to. Once, airports are full of airports. There are some smiles and less laughter, even with children. On the way to my hotel I saw a garbage and experienced a sense of sinking.
Doha as a city of emerald is only established. My taxi driver said before 1982 it was most desert. What can all be done with oil! But it’s not just about money. Streets are not good. There is no trash and no glasses to be placed.
Perhaps, like Singapore, there are many sanctions for waste, or maybe local citizens are proud of their country and shown in the image they present. It is hot (105 degrees), but cool air is pumped from under a lot of sidewalks. How cool is that?
Sa Vietnam, ingon sa akong gisulat kaniadtong miaging semana, samtang ang kabanikanhan adunay mga lugar nga basura ug pagkadunot nga mga tindahan ug mga balay, ang Chi Minh City kasagaran nga limpyo ug makita nga nag-uswag. My hotel is a model for what is the US friendliness industry like – Great service, spotless places and rooms and drinks and a feeling of being a guest. Here is an irony for you: A cocktail is named “B52” and bathroom cloths made by American standard.
Beijing too, clean. True, there are police in many corners and cameras wherever, recording “every step you make … I look at you.” Credit to the police group the police.
Tokyo Airport restrooms are very clean that they appear to be recently installed.
A person can find many mistakes in other countries – as one can find mistakes in ourselves. The freedoms we have restricted are restricted elsewhere, but the freedom of the US seems to have been removed as a license to do whatever person’s desire to cause self, or in the country.
Watching the trash, graffiti and a sense of darkness in America’s segments is the result of failure to teach certain things that parents teach or strengthened by teachers or the principal of school. We didn’t put rubbishes or empty glass bottles along the road. In fact, many grocery and other stores are offered 5 cents for each bottle returned. It is not called recycling, but incentive to get a pocket money with a similar consequence.
My Dad belonged to Isaac Walton League, who taught responsible hunting and fishing and appreciation for the land, wind and water. Conservationists, they call themselves. This is before environmentism holds and it seems to me to make the best results after I describe.
American pride once means respect to the earth “from California to New York Island.” It is made for you and me so we clean it and show that we care about our land as many other countries who care for them.
Maybe a campaign can start under the banner “make America too clean.”
Readers can email Cal Thomas at [email protected]. Find the latest cal Thomas’ book a nightdown: What I see in more than 50 years reporting America “(HumanixBooks).
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