Most often than not, people misconstrue the fundamental ideas of respect. Well-bred, educated folks, young and old, know that respect is something that is borne out of respect. It is a moral obligation of everyone and not an exclusive right nor privilege of the aging members of society. Needless to say, the young is expected to act courteously. Accordingly, the seniors ought to act graciously because it is their inherent duty to model good behavior to the youth. How can the youth learn lessons of propriety when the elders are guilty of impropriety? The youth can only be as good as their role models.
The elders are viciously vocal about the misgivings of the youth towards them and yet they are in constant denial of the moral infractions they commit. I find this odd. And I am very much disturbed by it.
It seems that some elders ignorantly assume that they ‘deserve respect’ simply because they are showing a lot of gray hair. Some use their years indecently to force upon the young– rude impositions. Now, is that ethical? A number of you reading this would give a resounding opposition to what I have just described. You may even be saying that this does not happen. And yet it does…happen…everyday…in every part of the globe.
Here in Korea, my observation is that the elders have a habit of soliciting
help from younger people which is often voiced out in a manner that is impertinently rude and condescending. A request coming off like a command is not a request. And yet, the Korean elders expect compliance. Who would comply to a rude imposition? Would you?
Reprimanding a kid using words that psychologically damage a child’s
self-esteem is hardly an appropriate behavior for an elder. When the child mirrors such an example, the elders are shocked out of disbelief. It seems to me that Korean elders feel that they have the right to act with impunity. So they bring all hell out without no remorse whatsoever. Elders and adults commit petty and grave misconducts all because they have a ‘free jail card’ — their ‘age’.
It is ok to engage young people’s help and I believe that they are willing to be of service to anybody. Young people are malleable. It is ok to reprimand a kid if the purpose is to help the child and not to merely let off steam. If the elders learn to respect the young for their self-worth, then there’ll be less conflicts owing to generation gaps.
The youth have to be treated right. They are no less an individual than we are. They are God’s creation with equal rights. They are given unto our care to love, to nurture and to mold. We are not to damage them emotionally, physically and psychologically.
The elders are the foundation of society. From them, the youth draw notions of justice, righteousness and morality. If the elders are practitioners of impropriety, they are subtly yet effectively indoctrinating the youth to be loose in morals.
People say that it is politically incorrect to speak ill of the elders because it is disrespectful. However, if we let this go unnoticed it will create a vicious cycle. And soon everyone in society will be modeling an ill behavior and the generation after them will have the notion that it is the right behavior simply because it is the current practice of adults and elders. Now, is that politically correct?
The elders are the moral compass. They monitor the young, but who monitors them? The world is witnessing an increasing number of delinquent youths. We don’t need to wonder why. The youth can only be as good as their role models.
