As every gun-loving red-neck knows, National Public Radio (NPR) is currently in the gun-sights of those pols who find it "un-American." A classic example of fears in the face of facts. Fears bred and spread by chatterers like Limbaugh and Trump, and even as thinkers like Gingrich and Boehner.
However, as a dedicated NPR fan who disagrees with these kill-the-messenger hawkers, I feel obliged to report a rare disappointment with NPR. In its recent program on centenarians, its stats were indisputable; but not all its conclusions.
Today there are 36 million seniors (12% of the population) projected to reach 86 millions by 2050 (21%). Today there are 483 million seniors worldwide, expected to be 974 million by 2030. As for centenarians, there are 68,000 today which will reach 580,000 by 2040.
So what did NPR do in talking with centenarians...? They could have plumbed the depths of their waning memories in order to assemble the benefit of their first-hand experiences. Instead, NPR seems to have caught America's chirpy seize-the-day-and-keep-yourself-busy mantra. NPR said, "We didn't want to dwell on the centenarians' old yesterdays, but rather their on opinions about their new tomorrows."
Isn't that like asking today's few remaining WWII veterans what they think about the new space age, instead of what they can report about an age which only a few of them are left to tell us about first-hand. Maybe it's just me, but I really don't care to hear how centenarians like basket-weaving, water-polo, three-card-poker, or wood-shop. Nor do I find their opinions about staying fit and eating healthy an imperative.
What I DO crave to hear and learn from them, is why and how they prevailed along the twisting trails of the times they lived. Times we might otherwise not fully understand. And that includes those crises and cures they lived through we might otherwise simply take for granted. Also both the prevailing principles and prejudices that walked with them over their trek through time. Centenarians are living time-capsules who have much to report about how we all got to where we are, and those capsules should be broken open.
Where we're going from here is for US to consider. But while the old are still with us, lets us gather around the campfires and ask THEM to tell us stories...
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I agree Jack .... It is the 'personal' stories that are a legacy of value that I have always sought from my 'Elders' ... not a brief comment on today's mundane retirement activities that they may be subject to ... Men and women I've been privileged to have inform me of all aspects of life from 1910-1950 ... Making a living, marriage then, Combat in the Pacific, ETO and on the North Atlantic ... Seeing 'Hoppers' clean off a years work in a day ... hunger, pain, love, redemption and strength. All things that they explained in their modest and tactful manner - for I was blessed to know few who would boast ... Yes my friend as you say "lets us gather around the campfires and ask THEM to tell us stories"...
ReplyDeleteBarrie, my man, you speak great campfire truths...!
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