There is a program currently running on The Discovery Channel titled Dirty Jobs. The host of this program spends a day working in a job that is seen as a “dirty job”, and it is shown on TV soon after. Thus far, he has been a sugar refinery plant worker, aligator rangler, fireman, sewage plant worker, whale autopsy technician, and more. Much like other things today, this prompted a thought in my mind. How many jobs (and those who perform them) do we take for granted each day?

Many people would say Police Officer and Firefighter, but since 9/11, those who are officers of the law, and those who fight fire have been thanked and recognized more and more, although their passion and sacrifice is far beyond most people. But, what about the garbage man, the chimney sweep, the rancher, and so one? How long do you think we would be a “civilized society” without men to collect and properly dispose of our garbage? How long do you think our homes would be livable without someone to clean our chimney flu? How long would we survive without someone to slog through the mud to tend to and raise beef cattle?

Now I am not trying to lay a guilt trip on anyone here. I am as “guilty” as the next person for not being thankful for those who do these jobs, but what I do hope to achieve here is that you will simply think of what was necessary for you to be able to drive to your office, cool/heat your home, have healthy meat to cook for dinner, and so on in the future.

Smokey OUT!

Cross posted at Smoke Signals Blog

Said The Smoke Eater @ 11:17 pm | Permalink   

1. Wonder if the “Dirty Jobs” Show has thought about following Howard Dean or Nancy Pelosi around for a day or two.

   Comment by hiltonhead — 1/30/2006 @ 9:28 am

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2. If you breathe in too much smoke you’ll get the chimney flu!

   If you clean a chimney you’ll most likely clean the flue…

   Comment by Highland — 1/30/2006 @ 10:01 am

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3. Somehow I think that might be a little too much even for him.

   Comment by The Smoke Eater — 1/30/2006 @ 1:29 pm

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