Homelessness
Homelessness is a big issue, especially in America, which is caused by many factors, including the lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment substance use, among others. Sadly, people’s perceptions include the assumption that homeless people are not learned, or they deserve to be homeless because they are not hardworking. I agree with Lars Eighner in the Essay “Dumpster Diving” because he speaks about the nature of dumpster diving and the struggles he experienced in his profession. From the essay, there are indeed people who are fascinated with dumpster diving and the wasteful ones. From the author’s perspective, dumpster divers are better than Wasteful Americans. The lesson from the real-life experience of being homeless and dumpster diving is clear that one has to use what is obtainable to get the knowledge and skills to understand what is needed to survive (Eighner, 7). Based on the essay, I can say that valuing what one has and avoiding wastages is helpful in human existence.
In agreement with the author, I can say that a careful dumpster diver who uses good judgment cannot consume what is harmful. Dumpster divers tend to as questions about what they get; this allows them to consider consuming the quality foods and taking what is beneficial to them. “Why was this discarded?” (Eighner 359). Eighner recommends the canned and dried food such as cereals, chips, pasta and cookies, fresh vegetables, and fruits, among others, as they are free from visible contaminants. The foods such as fish, poultry, eggs, and beef, among others, tend to spoil first.
I agree with the author that one has to get used to grabbing what is useful and leaving what is not necessary to avoid wasting resources. “I just hate to see food go to waste, and so I eat much more than I should” (Eighner, p 47). The author sees wealth as an item that most of the people take advantage of the wealth they have. Eighner says that students do not know the value of money, so they carelessly throw away useful items. The author would have mentioned the health effects of canned foods as evidence shows that there is canned food with preservatives and chemicals capable of increasing vulnerability to cancer and other illnesses. Eighner should not have ignored the explanations of the canned food’s side effects so that the audience who resort to making a decision based on his idea can choose wisely what is beneficial.
Additionally, the author would have identified the students’ maturity and consider their innocents before concluding their wasteful behavior. Students are learners who are still going through school, and hence they need guidance and awareness on life aspects to make them responsible adults in the future. Therefore, Educating the students on wealth matters and the importance of
Understanding the situations that people go through is helpful as it alleviates the negative and wrong judgment about people. Eighner uses logic statements to educate the readers that it does not matter what people do for a living so long as they can afford the basic needs. The essay mentions how Eighner viewed and valued Dumpster. The reasons he explains shows how he depends on dumpster diving for food and saving for rent.
The location of the dumpster site s essential, and checking them regularly is beneficial as one can know the timings to get the higher benefits. Eighner tabulates and boasts about his pizzas, cheese, Alcoholic beverages, pornography peanuts, and yogurts, among others. This shows that the author diving site has been profitable than others. The timings of the calendar to determine when the school sessions open is also a strategy used by the author to benefit from the valuable items thrown by the students. It is true that setting objectives and applying the necessary skills is helpful in anything that one does. However, using Dumpster Diving makes the audience pity him rather than learn from the story tabulated. The art of scavenging is shameful in communities, so anyone associated with it is considered a failure. “I live from the refuse of others; I am a scavenger … While Lizbeth and I lived in a shack, we began to eat from the dumpsters” (Eighner, p, 87). The scavenging and eating from the Dumpster depict filthiness and shameful. Although Eighner wanted the readers to realize how people struggle with shame and appreciate where we are because others would live to be there, the use of scavenging seems not effectively appealing.
Being proud of what one does is essential in alleviating poverty despite the nature and place of works. Eighner tabulates how he felt pride and the sense of being in a better state of life than the fortunate people. Despite the shame, he felt when he was reduced to the decadence. For now, Eighner, as the Dumpster Diver, takes anything useful, taking pride in what others call trash. The good books and magazines were thrown away by students’ help, “I am grateful, however, for the number of good books and magazines the students throw away.” Eighner, 26). The author affirms of being comfortable with his job by saying that “Dumspre diving is outdoor work, often surprisingly pleasant.” (Eighner, pp. 27). Despite the embarrassment, Eighner is still happy and contented with his job. I agree with the author in the above argument because people need to be enlightened to be appreciative and do what they can with the determination to succeed—this way, poverty alleviation can be achieved. Poverty reduction can be achieved by encouraging people to work hard in what they perform. This way, aspects like homelessness, drug abuse, and robbery will reduce because people, especially the youth, are busy and cannot indulge in other activities. People should not rely on employment to survive because they can get fired at any time.
Recycling products can be a better way of ending poverty and sustaining the environment and providing usable items in households. Eighner states that apart from jeans, all the clothes she has were sourced from the Dumpster. Medicine, typewriters, books, and bedding, among others. The availability of the items sustains a homeless person a lot. Therefore, there is a need to educate the public on proper ways of recycling the products they have. They should consider what they throw or keep (Eighner, 94). Donating the unused items to the poor can be helpful than throwing them away.
On the other hand, reducing poverty can be a complex aspect as many people do not collaborate in embracing the various interventions available. Many people believe in taking their children to school to learn and get employed in respectable places. The current world is complicated because of the increased technology and corruption issues, which has led to reduced job opportunities. Educating people to use their hands and explore different fields could be helpful. Importantly, making people realize that they can survive, using what they can readily get, is essential. Eighner in the essay presented a different perspective about the life that may not be respected by many dispelling the perceptions about dumpster living. To succeed in reducing poverty, people should try to earn an honest living without bothering others like the respectable scavengers that Eighner was insinuating.
I agree with Eighner that one needs. To take what is usable and leave the rest, most people tend to take over more than they can use, leading to more waste. People have had more than enough in terms of time and money. The excess surplus has made many people forget the value of life and the less fortunate people in society. The story is touching and interesting showing the readers that even though life can throw them away, they can survive and beat the odds no matter how big the issues are. Being credible and honest is more important in life as it can uplift the nature of one’s work to be meaningful before others who feel sympathy. People in society tend to look down upon people and generalize the homeless with a negative connotation. Judging others can be misleading because dumpsters are associated with drug abuse, which Eighner proves otherwise. He is credible and honest, determined to dive in dumpsters to obtain his basic needs.