Respect for Elders

[CINDY]

Maybe I am getting too old, but I still have respect for my elders and for those I consider Hero’s.

We had company last night; wide range of ages. Old and Young!

We were honored with individuals that had escaped from Germany, malnourished and shot; individuals that fought in the Battle of the Bulge; and individuals that have spent a life time of service. I can’t help but respect and admire these so called hero’s.

On of the young kids present (maybe 23 years old), was tired of hearing us talk about the “old days” and stated “You old timers have taught me a lot.” And continued on by changing the subject. I know I should have more patience, but that irritated me and I just as quickly brought the subject back on line.

Just because you are older than dirt does not mean that you are un-interesting.

I think that the older I get, the more I notice that young kids don’t have an interest in senior citizens, for the past, or for those that made it possible for them to have the freedom to feel that way. Whether I support what someone did or not, I still respect my seniors.

I would give my right arm to be young enough to enlist today. I guess I get that from my Dad.

Not quite as old as dirt, but getting closer.

Cindy

 

[Bob_M]

Even though I'm only going to be 30 this year, I feel I have alot more respect for elders than kids just a few years younger than me.

I may not be 100% respectfull (darn Sunday drivers need to hit the gas ) but many kids don't respect their parents let alone their elders and grandparents.

Of course it doesn't help that we have a growing number of grandparents in there 30's. DIfferent topic but its certainly not helping.

I wish I knew my Grandfather better (WWII vet), but I rarely saw him and as a kid really had no interest in him. My loss.

 

[Craig H.]

Originally posted by Bob_M


Of course it doesn't help that we have a growing number of grandparents in there 30's. DIfferent topic but its certainly not helping.

Bob:

Not only is this not helping, I believe that it is a major cause. Many of these young grandparents were also single parents who got pregnant at a young age. The next generation follows suit. Many, if not most, of these, will grow up with little or no male authority figure in their lives, or worse, the ones they do have are worse than none at all. Call me a sexist pig if you like, but at least do a search on the 'net for some studies, first.

This lack of positive guidance, along with what passes for entertainment these days (gangster [c]rap, violent TV, video games, etc), and it would be surprising if we got any other result than what we have. Lack of respect for one's self, one's elders, decency, manners, etc, etc.

 

[Sue]

Perhaps the military has a positive influence on younger people when it comes to respect. My son, who will also turns 30 next month, almost idolizes his grandfather. In fact, he wrote a wonderful paper about my father's time spent in the navy during WWII; it as a class assignment but I learned facts that I never knew. I think WWII veterans were often reluctant to discuss the war, but Dad opened up to my son, a former Marine himself.

The military and some private schools still teach respect, but society as a whole is grossly disrespectful (IMHO)! And manners - that is another issue

Sue

 

[Craig H.]

Sue:

What did your Dad do in the Navy? My Grandfather was a Seebee in the Phillipines in WWII.

 

[Randy Stewart]

I agree

I agree with you. However, I believe it's our fault! I include myself so don't think I'm just pointing fingers. First, we don't require them to "get into" history, and as a kid we have a rough time seeing past our nose. Things are for the moment, the here and now. They don't have time to plan their future much less study the past! Besides the past is "so 5 minutes ago"! And we, as parents and mentors, have let this slide. That's just the history portion.
Secondly, how often have we been pulled over for speeding and made a comment about the cop in front of our kids? While visiting my grandaughter a couple weekends ago, she saw a cop car while we were driving. She says, "grandpa watch out, that a-hole will get you". She didn't learn that from being picked on by the cops, she's only 3, she learned that from her dad. How is that teaching respect for people?
They don't have to respect their teachers, they have no respect for authority, they don't respect their friends and they don't know how to respect themselves! We are so busy trying to keep the big house, buy them a car, pay for their college, etc. that we don't invest in them. They learn early that their self worth is second to the value of money or how important the show on TV is. Unless something they have done is brought to our attention by outside interactions (i.e. the cops). Give 'em an "X" box and they'll leave me alone. Or worse, how do we treat our spouses? Do we respect them or try to belittle them each time a misunderstanding or mistake happens?
It would seem that as our time to death as been extended our time to maturity has also. Can you imagine that Alexander the Great was in his 20's when he conquered the known world! That George Custer was a Brigadier General at age 23! It's hard to believe.
I had the opportunity to hear Cory Tenbaum (sp?) speak when the movie "The Hiding Place" came out. My dad took me, well made me go, and I remember thinking "oh boy, I get to listen to some old hag talk to me about the old days". I got my ears full that night. I remember waiting on every word she said and begging my dad to purchase the book.
IMO every child born in the US needs to spend some time overseas, even if it's in the UK (I'm not putting anyone down here). We are afforded so much more, on a daily basis, even more than the other industrialized nations. Here, if a building is 25 + years old we tear it down for something new (can't hold on to history), where, in Scotland I lived in a flat that was older the the United States themselves!!! Plus I was only a few blocks away from the ruins of a castle.
I'll get off my soapbox, but Cindy you are right. And if you haven't noticed by now - you hit a nerve!

 

[Sue]

Hi Craig,

To quote my son's paper, which would definitely be more accurate than my knowledge
"As a tool and die worker making parts for proximity shells used to shoot down planes, he was considered a skilled worker and was not part of the draft pool that resulted with the outbreak of World War Two. However, the attitude of America at the time demanded that every able-bodied man join the service. ....
My grandfather was sent to boot camp in Samson New York. After boot camp, he was sent to school for his military occupational training as a fireman. He was sent to the Ford Company in Dearborn Michigan for what amounted to a basic engineering school. Then he was off to the Carrier Company for instruction in maintenance of refrigeration units. As you might imagine, the title of fireman has little to do with fighting fires. His duties would include working as a machinist, maintaining water evaporators and refrigerators, the hydraulic steering engine, and even the anchor windlass or “crank”.
Upon completion of his training, my grandfather was sent to Brown shipbuilding in Houston, Texas to await the completion of his ship, the USS Richard S. Bull... was designated as a destroyer escort.
After completion of the ship, the crew went on a “shakedown cruise”. The cruise went from Texas, to the Bahamas, all the way to Maine. During this part of the cruise the crew was also on the lookout for German U-boats while performing drills. The ship then proceeded through the Panama Canal in route to the Pacific Theater, stopping in San Diego and Hawaii for supplies."

 

[CINDY]

Younger parent(s), violet TV shows, limited parental input all contribute.

I agree that kids need two parents that actually parent their children.

Male figures are in dire need. I was a Boy Scout leader for a year until a male replacement could be found. That was my choice. The young males did not mind but I did. The whole idea behind boy scouts is to provide positive male interactions to assist young men in becoming adults that contribute to their communities.

The military is not the only place for children to learn respect. It has to start at home first and it has to start early in life. Respect should not be taught from reading or preaching it, it should be taught by example.

It is becoming more acceptable for children to raise themselves. So if they don’t learn how to be a good human being, we have no one to blame.

I wish every child could experience life in other parts of the world. Actually, I wish adults could too. Maybe even experience illness, poverty, hunger, helplessness etc.

Is this where we solve all the problems of the world?

Cindy

 

[CarolX]

just my 2 pennys worth

Randy,

I second your statement

I believe it's our fault!

I'm gonna go out on a limb on this, but what the heck....

How many of you are from the "Baby Boom" generation? How many of you said "When I raise my kids, I will do things very different from my parents because they are so WRONG at it"? I know I said this.

I think we failed at that!

JMHO,
CarolX
another older than dirt baby boomer, praying that I did do a few things right.

 

[Randy Stewart]

I'm in.
I have been blessed to have another chance with my daughter now. I've mended some wounds with my other 3, but with the youngest of them being 19 it takes more time.

another older than dirt baby boomer,

Not only are you (I've decided I'm not) getting older, we are losing those that lived through WWII, the depression, etc. We are losing those that are the last generation to "really" pay for what we have enjoyed all our lives. Think about it, WWII was 60 years ago and Vietnam was 40 years ago.

Respect should not be taught from reading or preaching it, it should be taught by example.

Both how to give and earn!
As a young E4 I had a mentor that had a bit of a problem with authority. He didn't give it lightly, even to officers. We had returned from some op and were enjoying a couple pops at the local watering hole in VA Beach. One of the LTs that was on the transport we had been on came up to us and had a seat at our table. We were all out of uniform so it was very low key. Todd (my mentor) called this guy by his first name, he turned and told Todd that he was an officer and "would be addressed by Mr. or Sir". Todd looked at him a moment (we thought we were going to have a fight to stop) and told him that "the Navy requires me to respect the uniform not the man, I don't see you wearing a uniform so to me you're just a piece of ****. He hadn't earned it.