Jul 04 2008
July 4th Independence for ALL Ages
INDEPENDENCE is certainly a concept that goes beyond a holiday, a day off from work, a day for picnics and parades and fireworks.
Besides the fact that July 4th represents our country’s “birth,” our severance from ”Mother England, and the oppressive nature of that colonial relationship, INDEPENDENCE represents for each and every one of the citizens of this country the FREEDOMs and RIGHTs that we guaranteed ourselves by Constitutional Amendments that were ratified by the several states as part of the agreement to accept the new Constitution drafted by the Convention in Philadelphia back in 1787-88.
Those FREEDOMs and RIGHTs are put to the test DAILY when it comes to Aging Americans and their LIFESTYLES. What expectations do you have of a decent retirement, of a decent standard of living, of a decent level of medical care, of a decent quality of life, of a decent dignity in death, and a decent burial?
I believe it is our continuing responsibility as active older Americans to remind this generation, and the next, and the one coming after that, of the very real obligations they carry toward their elders and that we are to be honored, not endured; that we are a blessing to them, not a burden.
I say it is Our responsibility because we, as active older Americans still have a voice, and we can demand to be heard. I’ve heard that one out of every four voters (people who actually VOTE) are members of AARP. There is tremendous strength in those numbers, and we have the power to positively affect the way we (and our descendents) are treated and cared for in America for decades to come. Let’s be united. Let’s ensure that our own INDEPENDENCE is respected and guaranteed.
