Why Not Consider a Middle Ground

I have been reluctant to enter the “straw debate” but the commenters, writers, and articles that I have read seem to focus on one side or the other. And the Twitter debate is beyond the pale. It has finally gotten to the point where I feel compelled to offer my own opinion. It’s a practical middle ground. There may be those that disagree and those that agree, but my hope is that folks on both sides of this issue can see that I offer some points that represent a practical and workable solution.

Let me say upfront that I am a firm proponent of protecting our environment. I marched (well rolled) with my family in support of renewable energy. I want a clean planet and oceans that are not full of plastic waste. But on the flip side, I need to have the ability to perform activities of daily living that I can do independently and maximize my independence. For me, straws are necessary assistive devices.

I’ve been a quadriplegic for 36 years. I am paralyzed from the neck down and I have no use of my fingers. I don’t have much trunk support and I cannot lift or hold anything, no less a cup of any size or design. I wear a splint on my right hand with a cuff that helps me to hold bent silverware so I can eat independently. I often use plastic silverware because it is lighter and I can hold it between my fingers. And, when I am eating soup or something liquidy even if it is thick, sorry about etiquette, but I use a straw otherwise I will be sitting there overnight trying to eat every last bit.

Then, there is the issue of no straws in stadiums. This is dangerous for a number of reasons. My husband and I attend season basketball games at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. We purchase the official game cups at the beginning of the season and bring them back to each game. Therefore, we use the same plastic cups for months. The concession stands are no longer putting plastic tops on the cups and no straws are allowed. There should be an exception here. When people are going up and down stairs in an arena that is as steep as a mountain, there is a very strong likelihood that they are going to spill or easily knock over a full cup of liquid. And if they want to avoid that, it means buying a drink in a plastic bottle or beer in a can, both of which are damaging to the environment.

So here is what I do as a middle ground. If I get a plastic straw at a venue or a restaurant, I take it home with me. All of my straws are washed in the dishwasher and I use them over and over until there are holes in them. I do the same with plastic cups because they are not likely to crash and break. The same with plastic silverware. All are used until they cannot be used again. I use the a covered mug that I carry with me as often as I can so that I can ask restaurant cashiers or baristas to use my mug instead of their paper cup. The only time I don’t use the mug is when I am driving my chair down a bumpy street and I am afraid it will fall over and roll into the middle of the street. Yes, this has happened. My friends will tell you that in most pictures my straw and mug are a central part of my attire.

As far as straw substitutes, I don’t like them and they don’t work for me. The paper straws melt if it is anything hot and so do the cheap clear plastic straws. The bamboo straws do not bend so that is a deal-breaker for me. And the metal straws that bend make everything taste terrible and do not wash easily so I don’t feel like they are sanitary. I have a foldable straw that is okay, and I carry it in my purse as a last resort, but it also has its challenges of being unsanitary if we can’t wash it right away.

So let’s give each other a break. I am doing my best to protect the environment. My straws are not going to make or break it. I do agree that straws do not need to be out and available to the general public or provided automatically. But if an individual asks for a straw, personnel should be trained to give it to the individual and not ask questions. No “straw interrogations!” And all restaurant personnel, both fast food and sit down, should know where the straws are kept. My worry is that if you ask for a straw, there will be a long wait while personnel scurry around in the back to find the straws in the locked cabinet and nobody knows where the key is. I have visions of straw nightmares similar to what I experience when I am on a lift and the operators can’t find the key. So restaurant owners, take note.
Let’s be reasonable, friendly, and tolerant of those that need accommodation. If we do that, my straw and I will live happily ever after.