1000 Flowers for the Planet - #87 Respect the Elderly
In Australia we can learn from the Aboriginal
peoples whose culture is based on respect for the land and respect for the
elders. The elders teach the young in stages as they are initiated into
different levels of learning. In this way they pass on traditions, culture,
beliefs, stories and knowledge.
In England they have recently made official
a ‘Dignity Code’ which sets out expectations on how people should treat
the elderly. Within this wonderful document it states that it is unacceptable to be abusive or
disrespectful in any way. It also calls for the use of formal spoken terms of
address, unless invited to do otherwise. This is a core belief of mine – that
respect of one’s elders begins with the form of address. As a child I used to
look forward to the day when children would call me “Mrs” (insert surname). But
it never happened. I’m lucky if the younger generation call me anything at all!
Show respect. Begin by being polite in all ways, allow the elderly to speak for
themselves, make their own decisions, keep their dignity, be surrounded by
their possessions, choose how and where they live and help them in any way
possible. By respecting our elders, we can then reasonably expect the same
ourselves, in due course.
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