Medicine Lodge High School
Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Teachers: Devra Parker and Mike Hubka
Generations Divided
By Kendra Rice
12th Grade
While driving down the road have you ever encountered an incredibly slow moving vehicle? Would your first reaction be to patiently coast behind, curse silently to yourself, or swerve recklessly around the lethargic automobile? More than likely you would get frustrated and decide to pass, only to discover a senior citizen behind the wheel.
Our society has formed this rift between the younger and older generations bit by bit. Before we pass the point of no return, actions should be taken to bring both generations to a better understanding of one another. Communities need to take an active part in finding common interests and activities that will maintain a connection between both generations that will thrive for years to come.
On the flip side, many elderly people view the younger generation as reckless, materialistic, and even dangerous. Some of the elderly believe they do not show respect or gratitude for the simple things in life. Because of television, radio, and newspapers, the older generation frequently is bombarded with information on fraud, deaths, and vandalism committed by youth. Therefore they tend to view the younger generation with scorn and disdain, not giving the benefit of the doubt but judging them through the media.
Some young people in our society look upon the elderly as slow-paced, sickly, and a burden. The younger generation feels that the senior citizens have nothing left to contribute to the community. Their opinions and beliefs are ancient, outdated, and very old fashioned. Pre-teens and young adults have a hard time accepting the limitations that the elderly sometimes have. Young people perceive growing old as an event in life that is not going to befall them. Losing one’s memory, dealing with aches, pains, ailments, and other factors of aging, weaves a web of fear. This fear expands the youth’s view of an exaggerated and sometimes unfortunate ideal of the golden years.
The youth of today feel uncomfortable when expressing themselves for fear of ridicule and the possibility of rejection. One possible way to alleviate some of this anxiety is to introduce a program in which the elderly prepare a meal that aquaints the younger generation with their traditions and values from earlier days. In addition, it would give a different view of the elderly's manners, upbringing and may help to broaden the youths’ perspectives. In return, today's youth would provide an elaborate meal that represents their idea of the type of meals they enjoy. Through this activity, both generations would have a chance to engage in conversation that could lead to an acceptance of each other's differences and possibly form lasting relationships.
Thoughts about growing old in society today can be apprehensive. Death of a spouse, health issues, and depression are some factors that can lead to a loss of independence, because, in a sense, that might be all they have left. To give the elderly a feeling of selfworth and appreciation, the government should implement a program through the schools that would enable the youth of today to interact with the elderly. The government could begin by requiring schools to set aside one hour a week for students to integrate with a fellow senior citizen in their community. They could participate in simple activities such as the following: board games, bingo, card games, and reading activities. They may also be of assistance with any assignments that could incorporate the knowledge of an older person. By encouraging this interaction throughout the school system, it may help inspire the youth to keep in contact with the elderly.
To strengthen the steady bond that each generation will form. I do not believe that the government could pass a law that would prevent or remove the suspicion and doubt that both the younger and older generations feel towards one another. Our society as a whole has fueled the misgivings and given unjust labels to each. The government is limited in its powers to control societies thoughts and ideas. But to encourage each generation to view life’s shortcomings with a grain of salt would help to balance the differences. Without the older generation, there would not be a younger generation to carry on. Without the younger generation, there would be no growth in society, no new ideas, opinions, or goals to help shape the generations to come.
It is our responsibility as individuals whether members of the younger or older generation to be involved. To participate in events and activities throughout schools, churches, hospitals, and rest homes that encourages interaction for both generations.
Answers To Questions
Q1. In the United States, we invest in marriages much as we do the stock market. When the stock is rising and things are running smoothly, we ride the market. However, when the stock starts to plummet and things are looking dim, we quickly withdraw our investments and run. People in Manus invest in their marriages just as we in America invest in companies. At the beginning of the marriage, investments are made that are later repaid if the union lasts. Much like our financiers hesitate to back a man who has gone bankrupt or is constantly shifting locations, the Manus are very leery about backing a man who has often been divorced. In Manus, tried and enduring marriages assume greater prestige, and their so-called stock rises.
Q2. According to the ten married couples interviewed, the keys to a long, happy relationship are as follows:
1. A long- lasting relationship takes trust, a great sense of humor, a forgiving nature, and the willingness to put someone else’s need before your own.
Married: 19 years. Marriage: Second for both.
2. Above all a marriage depends upon a great deal of communication on both ends.
Married: 19 years. Marriage: Second for wife, first for husband.
3. To have a successful marriage, you must be able to truly enjoy being around your spouse and be willing to accept them for who they are.
Married: 54years. Marriage: First for both.
4. “To maintain a successful relationship, you must be able to fall in love with everything about the other person and to overlook minor faults and flaws.
Married: 2 years. Marriage: First for wife, second for husband.
5. A long-lasting relationship thrives upon commitment, honesty, and loyalty. You must be able to trust each other no matter what.
Married: 25 years. Marriage: First for both.
6. It takes a lot of love and understanding, and communication.
Married: 23 years. Marriage: First for both.
7. Spending time together, having fun together, and communication.
Married: 25 years. Marriage: First for both.
8. Spending quality time with the one you love, an only marry someone you love.
Married: 17 years. Marriage: First for both.
9. Good communication, do not fall in love with someone for their beauty because one day they will be old and wrinkled and you will be out of luck.
Married: 20 years. Marriage: First for both.
10. Tolerance, understanding, acceptance, love, and all that business
Married: 23 years. Marriage: First for both.
Q3. In Richard Eckersley’s essay he states that, “We need to look much more closely at what is growing, what other effects this growing is having, and what alternatives might exist. We need to focus not just on wealth creation, but also on its distribution and conservation.” The idea of cultural growth does not need to be abandoned; however, it does need to be reconsidered and looked beyond. Individuals need not be ‘anti’ the economy, business, or technological advancement, but should view them from new perspectives.
Q4. If every person would stop and think before they throw out a piece of trash, our community would be a cleaner and less polluted environment.
Q5. I find it extremely sad and a little frightening to think that in today’s society a doll is assuming the mother’s role as refuge and comforter. In my opinion, a doll could never serve as an adequate replacement for a mother’s indescribable love and compassion, and a doll could certainly never inflict values and morals upon a child. I ponder what direction our society is heading in when our children are being raised by toys. If parents would spend more time with their children at an early age, our crime rate in America would certainly decrease.
As the years progress, the gap between the haves and the have-nots will become increasingly wider. Our culture will continually diversify, and the number of have-nots will rapidly outgrow that of the haves. If races do not merge together for the common good of one another in the next century, then the have-nots will merely fall into the ever-widening cultural gap.
Q6. They create a form of public responsibility and accountability that would not happen in an untrammeled democracy. Lawyers take on so many functions that in another society would be taken on my government or civil service. Layers help to achieve what the economists call economics of scales. Through their rules and processes lawyers help to regularize an organization’s activities, and save money on human interactions.
Q7. In my opinion, the results achieved from obtaining punitive damages far surpass those of regulations. Punitive damages affect the people directly involved and cater to their own particular problem. Regulations affect a much wider array of people and do not suit individual needs. Many more people become upset when regulations are established.
Q8. The coming retirement of baby boomers will highly benefit the U.S.A. The baby boomers are the healthiest and most intelligent generation in history. They will serve to provide hobs for those older then them, younger than them, as well as the same age. They will provide work for their elders, set up entrepreneurships for teenagers, and offset the high cost of elder care facilities.
Q9. No, because they do not have well-paying jobs anyway and they should earn the money they need or as much as possible by themselves. If the government really wants to help, they should help them get a better education. I do not believe they can get all the funding to make it work. Many impoverished families are diseased and suffer from malnutrition. The design of the government’s program is still not as good as it might be. The unemployment rate is too high to make any major changes now.
Q10. Truett Cathy and Tom Lewis have some things in common. They both help children with bad circumstances. They also believe in God and attend church. They were both entrepreneurs as they each started their own schools.