Dishonor to Our Honored Citizens
by Within our culture, senior citizens are becoming less and less of value as the prevailing narcissistic attitude of celebrating youth magnifies. Honoring our elderly isn’t just an American value based on Christianity. Other cultures and religions honor and respect their ages. So why is our society plagued with the illness of elder abuse?
The Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Native Americans, Indians (residents of India), as well as Jewish, Moslems, Buddhists, Hindus and Christians all have solid beliefs based on the values that the elderly must be honored and respected. It certainly seems that to honor the aged is a universal social value based on religious and/or spiritualistic beliefs.
With this being the case, it becomes even more egregious for any society to have such a high level of elder abuse it is of epidemic proportions like it is in the United States.
The Cultural Overview
According to an internet article by Joe Mangiamele on “My Community Now”, June 22, 2008, the Japanese hold to the belief that the elderly must be honored, and how they are honored is a task every younger Japanese person takes seriously. “Ingrained within the Japanese Culture, perhaps one of the outstanding ones, is their social feelings for making life as comfortable as possible for the elderly.” (Page 1)
Similarly in China, “honoring and respecting the elderly and ancestors are considered a precious virtue. Through the ages Double Nine Day (September 9 th ), has evolved into a rich and varied occasion with hill climbing and kite flying to strengthen the body, soul and heart. It is a special day to invigorate the traditional Chinese values of filial piety and caring for the elderly.” (Teachcn.com “Chinese Traditional Festivals and Holidays” pages 2-3).
Filial Piety dominates many of the cultures of East Asia. According the article, “Filial Piety: The Traditional Ideal of Parent Care in East Asia” by Kuy-taik Sung, pg 1
(http://www.asaging.org./) “…the peoples of East Asia have a notable tradition: The foundation of this tradition lies in a value known as filial piety, which has long dominated the cultures of the peoples of Japan, China, and Korea. Filial Piety can be discussed in terms of six major categories:
* Respect for the parent
* Filial responsibility (affection, care and gratitude)
* Harmonization of the family
* Repayment of debts to the parent
* Affection to the parent
* Sacrifice for the parent.”
India has worked hard establishing a day care center for the aged in Delhi, called Prayatn to assist low income seniors to have a healthier life style and in living their life with dignity. Traditionally the family in India always took care of their elderly, but with the growing industrialization the family structure has been adversely compromised. Thus Prayatn has stepped in to assist with maintaining a level of honor and dignity for Delhi’s elderly.
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Post CommentColleen Patricia Williams
On December 28, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Excellent article! I did my clinicals in a facility. I will never work in one again. Now I work to keep the Seniors out. I am Pagan, I was raised Pagan and in that belief system, our Elders are sacred.
They are the repository of knowledge. They are those whose efforts we live off of today. The culture of youth is a curse on our world.
Catelin
On December 29, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Colleen
Thank you for your kind comments. I guess this makes two of us who will not work in a senior facility. I had to fight to keep my Dad out of one a couple years ago….I guess the “wizards” on that geriatric staff thought it wasn’t “healthy” for me to have been caring for dad for nearly 12 years. Strange in my mind that they thought such a long haul wasn’t healthy! Still doing it too…thank God! I do love the youth, but I reject and despise most of what their culture presents…it is so narcissistic.