Mrs. Parkinson
English IIIB
April 13, 2016
Dumpster Diving and Poverty
When you see garbage, what comes into your head? Do you think, "Man, that's some smelly, useless trash," or do you say, "This is where my next meal and paycheck will come from. Unfortunately, because of the time we live in, there are people in this world who daily think the latter. Due to this tragedy, many people often judge those in poverty that have been brought to this level of disparity in harsh and unfair ways. People often think of it as shameful and disgraceful, that no matter your need for food and money you shouldn't be rummaging through the trash to get it.
One's perspective on the subject might change after a discussion with someone in that state of need. In the book On Dumpster Diving, Lars Eighner discusses his point of view on what he does for a living. He says, "Almost everything I have now has been cast out at least once, proving that what I own is valueless to someone" (725). From what Eighner says here, we can learn that we shouldn't look at dumpster diving as a disgraceful way of life, but instead as finding value in things that others couldn't. Dumpster divers and those that are homeless are simply less fortunate than others, and Eighner portrays that because of that they are more developed in finding value.
One's perspective on the subject might change after a discussion with someone in that state of need. In the book On Dumpster Diving, Lars Eighner discusses his point of view on what he does for a living. He says, "Almost everything I have now has been cast out at least once, proving that what I own is valueless to someone" (725). From what Eighner says here, we can learn that we shouldn't look at dumpster diving as a disgraceful way of life, but instead as finding value in things that others couldn't. Dumpster divers and those that are homeless are simply less fortunate than others, and Eighner portrays that because of that they are more developed in finding value.
