Letter: Fellow Americans, wash your hands!
Last week at a local grocery store on a busy Saturday afternoon, I witnessed three men not wash their hands after using the bathroom. That’s disgusting! I won’t even get into why — everyone knows why — and if not, Google it.
Let’s dig deeper.
How could this be? Many businesses such as grocery stores provide the facilities and materials that enable hand washing. Thus, there is no direct economic cost not to do so. Furthermore, I rule out cost of time as explanation given any sort of rational cost/benefit analysis (see Google search).
Top issue of the day? Clearly not. But could this be one symptom of cultural and intellectual laziness that increasingly infiltrates our society? What used to perpetrate as simple, commonplace niceties and norms are withering away. Furthermore, let’s not take for granted we live in a prosperous nation where clean water, abundant energy and quality public sanitation is prevalent.
No, I am not a curmudgeon stuck with inflexible attitude (I’m in my 30s). I do think people should have more pride in themselves, those around them, and in their culture.
Please, wash your hands. It’s quick, free and just plain civilized!
Robert Dagle, Richland
This story was originally published February 24, 2016 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Letter: Fellow Americans, wash your hands!."