This week we decided to share some wisdom we learned from our CSR guru Rob, who in turn learned it from a Native American Chumash medicine man named Grandfather Semu Huaute.
It was during the time of the infamous LA riots, when Rob asked Grandpa Huaute what he made of it all. Grandpa replied that the situation was nothing new, and the solution was as old as the problem.
He explained that in his day, the young men, with all the pent up testosterone and aggression they didn’t know how to deal with, were sent to the frailest people in the community to chop wood, fix the roof, do the gardening and basically take care of the physical stuff that their elders couldn’t manage so easily anymore.
In return, the young people could see for themselves that this difficult, ‘awkward’ phase of their lives would not last forever, and learned by osmosis from the wisdom of the most experienced people in the community.
Interestingly when we look at our own society, one which claims that their young people are becoming increasingly disaffected, we also find that our elderly are at best treated as second class citizens, at worst; forgotten and neglected. Coincidence? Nah. Grandpa Huaute knew what he was talking about.
In learning about the lives of previous generations, we can begin to appreciate them as individuals and respect them for the advice they can give, the stories they tell, and the friends they can be to us. Often when we find it difficult to relate to our parents and teachers, it can be easier to talk to someone a generation removed, someone with a bit more perspective.
Old people aren’t a burden on society, they are our living history, a valuable asset, and one that should be cherished. If we see them as nothing more than a symbol of weakness and frailty, ‘once were’ people we feel obliged to do things for, rather than with, we are sending the message to our young that there is nothing more to life than being young and working, and once we can no longer do that, well, we may as well just disappear. No wonder they’re disaffected. 'Brave New World' anyone? No thankyou.
