Martha Farnsworth Riche, a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, says that the negativity that accompanies each new census report about the graying of America is unwarranted.
"It's good news, not bad, that people aren't dying young anymore," Riche wrote for the Los Angeles Times, "and even better news that most Americans are remaining healthy and active into their 70s and beyond."
Older Americans are healthier, wealthier and better educated than their parents, and that means a higher standard of living after retirement.
When you're trying to convince your grandkids how important an education is, drop that tidbit on them. Of course, they can't imagine that people live to be as old as you are, much less retire. I'm 46, and my grandkids probably think I'm ancient. But then, they also think that Barney and Big Bird are real.
How wonderful for society that our parents and grandparents are with us longer. We have a vibrant pool of volunteers and, in some cases, employees who help our schools, churches and businesses. And we enjoy a richness in our communities that comes from the sharing of life experiences by those who have been there, done that, worn out the T-shirts.
Riche says, "Old age isn't what it used to be." Still, many Americans cling to old-age stereotypes. And some of those clingers include those who have reached their "golden" years. The challenge is to not let those stereotypes become self-fulfilling prophecies for people who think they are supposed to act old because of what the calendar tells them.
My role model for "old" will turn 77 in April. My mother is a docent at the Fort Worth Nature Center and the Fort Worth Zoo. She plays golf, shoots skeet and can work a crossword puzzle like nobody's business. Last August, she took her third photo safari to Africa. She's traveled to Alaska and Spain alone. All of this since her 70th birthday.
I say a little prayer all the time: Please, Lord, let those studies about genetics and heredity be correct.
The "young old" are one of the nation's hottest target markets in many industries, particularly leisure and tourism. And employers are discovering that older people's experience and work ethic often make them attractive job candidates.
But there is a flip side to this coin. While the "young old" rightfully expect society to recognize and appreciate their power, experience and talents, society should expect them to use those assets to help out the generations that follow.
Everyone knows seniors with that "I've got mine I'm not worried about anyone else getting theirs" attitude. They think that just by living as long as they have, they've earned to right to do little more than look out for their own interests. AARP is an incredibly successful lobbying organization today because it knows how to mobilize thousands of Americans with that attitude.
Everyone knows seniors who get angry just talking about paying school taxes. They haven't had school-age kids for decades, so they're miffed about having to shoulder part of the financial burden for public schools.
They can find time to participate in their hobbies but just can't muster the energy to go read at a school, or volunteer at a hospital, or help out at a public library.
I don't begrudge anyone's enjoying their young old years on the golf course, at the bridge table or in front of the TV. But what a loss to society if their life lessons aren't used to help the next generations of Americans.
Newspaper editor and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells once said: "Treat the world well. It was not given to you by your parents but lent to you by your children."
Those children need role models.
An e-mail forwarded to me by a friend said that senior citizens are often criticized for every deficiency of the modern world, real or imagined. They don't duck responsibility and will take the blame if it's merited, but they would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:
The melody out of music,
The pride out of appearance,
The romance out of love,
The commitment out of marriage,
The responsibility out of parenthood,
The togetherness out of the family,
The learning out of education,
The service out of patriotism,
The Golden Rule from rulers,
The civility out of behavior,
The refinement out of language, or
The ambition out of achievement.
That's precisely why seniors need to be engaged with the generations that follow. We need all the help we can get to recapture the attributes and values that were once the hallmarks of America.
Jill "J.R." Labbe's e-mail address is jrlabbe@star-telegram.com.
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