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Dear, dear Vogelweh housing Litterbug, I wonder if you are familiar with the term vandalism. According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, vandalism refers to "willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property."

Dear, dear Litterbug, vandalism is exactly what you are doing when you choose to leave your cardboard boxes, car muffler, microwave, pedestal fan, unwanted furniture items, bags of trash, etc., lying alongside the Vogelweh housing trash receptacles instead of disposing of them properly. Your actions degrade the appearance and quality of life for residents in military family housing.

Dear, dear Litterbug, what is the matter with you? Can you not break down a box? Are you too special to abide by the bulk pickup schedule? Are you incapable of walking to an operational trash receptacle when the first one you reach is full? Do you have so little sense of personal responsibility, consideration for your neighbors, or pride in our community that you think it’s acceptable to set your trash anywhere you please?

My dear, sweet Litterbug, according to Merriam-Webster, you are a vandal, "one who willfully or ignorantly destroys, damages, or defaces property belonging to another or to the public." Because of you, my children had to step over dirty diapers, broken bottles and a cat box to walk to and from school yesterday. Because of you, our military housing area looks like the slums. Because of you, our host nation may get the impression that Americans have no respect for the natural environment.

Dear, dear vandal, please stop being so lazy. Please dispose of your trash properly. It’s really not that hard. You might even feel good about it.

Katrina PeaceVogelweh, Germany

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