How much more abuse, in all areas, are we in this country going to allow to be heaped upon the heads of our senior citizens?
Yesterday, not for the first time since the death of my father some months ago, I heard my mother voice the opinion, that she was, along with all people over a “certain age”, just “in the way” within society’s perception, and felt there should be a “pill” or similar method, whereby she and our other elder matriarchs, teachers, and scholars, could take to end their lives, when they felt they were no longer any use to, and indeed, had become a burden on society!
To say I am appalled would be an understatement, and the anger I felt, and still feel, on hearing this wonderful selfless woman, who nursed my sick father uncomplainingly, with dignity and grace, for several years before his passing, denigrate herself in this way, is boundless!
What has the British culture become, to make those within its Fold, at best, feel unwanted and unneeded, and at worst that they should be “bumped off” for being a burden?!
What has happened to the wonderful British “trademark” of teamwork, loyalty and respect, towards those who have passed on their wisdom, knowledge and experience, enabling the younger generations to both continue and expand our culture, our heritage, and our wisdom, both within ourselves, and within our society, so that we in turn, can pass on these golden qualities and knowledge to future generations?
The effort and sacrifices of these members of our society, are those which have given us the sparkling opportunities and choices, within which to build our lives and careers, and those of the generations to come.
What makes us think this uncaring and cruel attitude, that permeates also, through many other areas of our society, from health professionals, through to retail assistants, telephone operators, and many others too numerous to mention here, could be in any way acceptable?
Our senior citizens built this country on the foundations of “rock”, and we are substituting that for “sand”, which will of course, in time, collapse and “bury” us all.
It seems to me, that personal greed and selfishness has insidiously crept into our way of life, ousting out those qualities that allow us all to develop and evolve, as balanced compassionate human beings.
We lack respect for those who should command the most; perhaps we really lack respect for ourselves!
We appear to be the worst country in the world regarding the treatment of our senior citizens!
Without that inherent unconditional loving and giving of both knowledge and self, that allows all society to be equally as one, to walk independently when necessary, and to be then enfolded back into our community “pack,” the human structure will crumble and fall.
Might I suggest that the best place to begin redressing the horrifying imbalances that have arisen, is for us all to look at our own attitudes and behaviour individually, and then to congregate and look at them as a whole.
All we need do is have the courage of our own convictions, to enable us to truthfully and honestly look at ourselves, and to allow others the space to do likewise.
If this small task, (and it is small), is undertaken, that will be the first step on the road to addressing these gargantuan imbalances, that have been allowed to occur within a society, that at one time was second to none in its teamwork and loyalty, which fact we do not have to look too far back into history to see.
So come on British citizens! Stand up and be counted! Make our society’s structure, the proud establishment it ever was, and banish forever our senior citizen’s feelings of being on the “scrapheap”. Give them back that which has been taken from them, and for which we should be mortally ashamed; that of pride, in the self-knowledge of usefulness in their ability to pass on their knowledge and achievements to the ensuing generations.
These wonderful people with all their amazing qualities and abilities, are our national treasures; let us start respecting, loving, appreciating, and treating them as such, so that never again will I, or indeed any of us, hear that which should never have been heard in the first place.