A couple of incidents that occurred in Castries and seen by our editorial team of some elderly persons being disrespected by those of a younger generation has prompted us to call on the younger generation to stop this practice right now.
Such disrespectful actions are disheartening and highlight a lack of compassion and inclusivity within our nation. We seem to have forgotten that respecting our elders is a fundamental aspect of building a caring society.
We urge those of the younger generation who engage in this practice to cease doing this immediately as it is harmful. The insults hurled at our elderly community members are not only disdainful, but may appear to outsiders to be indicative of a broader societal issue. As a nation, we must prioritize empathy and appreciation for those who have contributed to our society over the years.
To address this concern, we hope that the Ministry of Elderly Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will work together to educate students in primary and secondary schools about the value of respecting their elders. By doing so, we can foster a culture of empathy and honour for the older generation.
Regardless of age, our elderly citizens are valuable individuals who deserve dignity, compassion, and love. Their life experiences hold wisdom that can enrich the lives of younger generations. Retirement does not diminish their worth; on the contrary, their knowledge can be tapped to create an environment where everyone feels valued.
Let us recognize the contributions of our elderly and actively promote respect for them. Together, we can build a more compassionate and inclusive society. But that’s not all. What about the emotional and well-being of our elderly? It should be taught to the younger generation, who have elder persons in their family, that the mere show of respect to those who came before them can foster a sense of belonging to the older folks and by doing so not only do we promote their overall quality of life but give them self esteem as well, which allow them to still make valuable contributions to the country.
Imagine how harmonious our society can be if government, churches, schools, youth clubs, NGO’s have as part of their charter, the cultivation of intergenerational connections, meaning, ensuring that they bridge the generational gap where the flow of experience and knowledge travels both ways.
If that is done, oh how many obstacles our younger generation would have safely navigated around, how many challenges they would have adequately conquered, how much better it would have been for the younger folks as they face the vicissitudes of life.
Respecting the elderly is not only a responsibility each of us must demonstrate. As noted above, they have a vast store of experiences and knowledge, which we can tap in and which, by the way, cannot be learned from textbooks. By tapping into this store the younger generation can learn valuable life lessons and practical skills that will enrich their lives, as they would have gained a broader perspective on life. This new or different type of lens through which to view the world will certainly help them throughout their lives,
Let’s be real, elderly people may not be able to contribute to society in the same ways they once did, however, what we must remember is that they still have value as human beings.
And to be fair, we are not lambasting the entire younger generation for the disrespectful nature of a handful of bad characters within their midst. We are expressing our thoughts now in order to nip that type of behaviour before it spreads and becomes cancerous.