Civilizations have risen and fallen repeatedly since time immemorial, and yet all we know about them is what's been said about them in the Good Book and what they've left behind. Aside from the Bible, then, the only evidence we have is trash . And trash has repeatedly proven itself invaluable in reconstructing such civilizations as those in ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, pagan pre-Columbian America, and even the Orient. Trash can also prove useful in telling us things about people and activities here and now, especially in this time of crisis in America. Many people who would never let slip an unAmerican sentiment in polite company will nonetheless reveal their true nature in the contents of their wastebaskets. Two different kinds of evidence can be found in a trashbin belonging to a terrorist and/or unpatriotic persons: Anti-american evidence: burned flags, crumpled-up flag depictions on various publications, packages and containers, and unceremoniously discarded or disfigured patriotica. Anti-american sentiments can also manifest as careless handling or discarding of icons associated with Americana: baseball cards, NRA baseball caps, apple pie recipes, hard-won tax refund checks, etc. Terrorist evidence: flight manuals printed in Arabic or other foreign tongues, bomb making instructions, annotated maps, nuclear plant blueprints, etc.