"The Natural State" still not apparent

As the prospect of a beautiful fall (hopefully) begins to take shape, one's thoughts turn to enjoying life here in "The Natural State."

But an underlying problem creeps in to spoil our sense of reverie.

And it is simply this -- can Arkansas really be called The Natural State?

We think not.

Not as long as we have a populace that litters our roadways with bottles, cans, styrofoam containers and other items far too numerous to mention.

Not as long as junk automobiles and other rusty equipment are scattered out along the countryside.

Not as long as residents of our fair state show disdain for their friends and neighbors in not keeping up their property, creating eyesores that bring down values (and quality of life) for others.

God did indeed create a natural state for us here in Arkansas, but man seems intent on destroying it.

Arkansas ranks high in the quality of living in very many ways and most of us, no doubt, find it a real privilege to be able to reside here.

But when it comes to litter, junkyards and other unsightly situations, we definitely rank somewhere down the list.

A statewide program, Keep Arkansas Beautiful, has been organized to deal with these problems. We will say this -- it's an agency with a huge challenge.

This obviously is an educational effort of immense proportions since the landscape certainly doesn't seem to be getting better with each passing year.

Yes, we know there are litter and junk problems everywhere. But objective observers would agree that Arkansas more than "holds its own" in this dubious area of distinction. Other states, and their residents, seem to have a much better handle on this situation.

Having said that, one of our favorite writers, Wendell Berry of Kentucky, has noticed many of the same problems in his state (and, yes, the fact is that states well to the north seem to have a better handle on this problem that Arkansas and its southern neighbors). Here is what Berry wrote about the throw-away problems in his native state:

"A close inspection of our countryside would reveal, strewn over it from one end to the other, thousands of derelict and worthless automobiles, house trailers, refrigerators, stoves, freezers, washing machines, and dryers; as well as thousands of unregulated dumps in hollows and sink holes, on streambanks and roadsides, filled not only with 'disposable' containers but also with broken toasters, television sets, toys of all kinds, furniture, lamps, stereos, radios, scales, coffee makers, mixers, blenders, corn poppers, hair dryers, and microwave ovens. Much of our waste problem is to be accounted for by the intentional flimsiness and unrepairability of the labor-savers and gadgets that we have become accustomed to."

While we're on this issue (and our regular readers know this is a common subject on this page), we'll ask about a problem we've questioned before -- namely, are there any laws relating to automobile junkyards located along state or national highways?

We spend millions of dollars promoting "The Natural State" to potential tourists across the country. Then, they arrive in our fair state and drive down roads that have junk cars piled up to the sky.

It's a situation we will never understand.

If it's indeed legal to have an open junkyard along a public highway, then just what exactly is illegal in the form of public nuisances, environmental transgressions, etc.?

Arkansas does possess a lot of beauty, but we have a long way to go before we legitimately can be called The Natural State.

--REK