 
I have heard said over and over again in my life something similar to this statement, "When you get to be that age, you have the right to say whatever you think!".
My problems with this statement are many. Now, before we go any further, I must tell you that I have said the above statement myself on several occasions. In this time we have, I will only speak of one problem with this statement.
WHAT AGE IS THAT? You see, I have heard this said of 70 somethings, and 80 somethings, and 60 somethings. Yet, I have seen the same people who said that of one person, not respect the same in someone else when they reach first persons age. Let me explain.
Person A was, let's say, 74 yrs. old when they said very loudly in a crowded room, "Is that woman pregnant or just fat?", everyone kinda laughs shrugs it off as Person A being Person A.
Now, twenty, thirty, forty years have passed and Person A's offspring Person B has passed the age of Person A when he/she was 74 yrs. old. Person B is talked about very negatively behind his/her back and spoken rudely to when she says anything off kilter. So when is old enough, old enough?
Maybe the age isn't the thing, maybe it is what they have done in their life...well then, the statement isn't valid then either, is it? The statement should then read, "When you have done all they have done....".
The truth of the matter is this, if we like what Person A said, it isn't respect for that person that allows us to allow them to say it. It is our liking to be entertained by his/her stories that allows us to allow them to say it. It is about us liking Person A better than Person B. We have more patience for those we like than we do for those who upset us.
So here's the thought...
When we look at the aged, do we respect them for their accomplishments or for their age and having made it this far in life? Why are we to respect the aged? For their wisdom? For their gray hair? For their stories of days gone by? Are we supposed to respect one aged person over another because we like his/her story better than another aged person? Is that how we wish to be characterized when we are aged? Have we allowed our need to be entertained to be the source of who we respect? Who can tell a better story, who can make me laugh, who lived the more daring of lives. Is this it? God help us if it is, we need to understand that the aged should have our respect simply because...they are aged. This country is the only country that doesn't revere the aged, we push them to the side for younger more shapely figures. We focus on the young, energetic and stupid, when the older and wiser are disrespected and made to sit alone and wonder if they are loved by anyone, anyone at all. There is a poll on this blog site please take the time to let me know what you think. |
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