Opinion
Group turns to toilet talk on Capitol lawn
By: Jeff Dufour
Editor at Large/Columnist, "Yeas & Nays"
11/20/08 12:05 AM EST
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On January 20th, Barack Obama will take the oath of office on the West Front lawn of the Capitol. Until then, that grassy hill is a great place to talk about feces, human waste and toilets.
Such was the case Wednesday, as activists from Water Advocates and other organizations set up shop to celebrate World Toilet Day, which we were told was being celebrated across the globe with "demonstrations and events."
And the puns were flowing freely. "It's time to make a stink because as many as 2 million people die needlessly of water- and sanitation-related diseases each year," said Water Advocates spokesman John Sauer in a release.
"We hide" from the topic "because we don't like to talk about it," said Melanie Nakagawa, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Let's talk toilets!"
Speaking of hiding, that was the theme of the signage that the group brought out on the cold, blustery day. The signs depicted cut-outs of people squatting behind umbrellas, luggage and rocks, the caption asking "Where would you hide?" You know, like if you didn't have a toilet.
Other placards read "Human waste — the last taboo" and "Hurry Up! 2.6 billion people want to use the toilet."
Also on hand: Patricia Derge Simon, wife of the late Sen. Paul Simon, D-Ill., whose name graces legislation that makes clean water a primary goal of U.S. international aid. "We take it for granted in this country that we have an infrastructure that provides us with sanitation," Simon said.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., was scheduled to speak as well, but we were informed he "had no voice." Better than having no toilet.
