We all remember signs that reminded children they were not welcome in certain areas of society, with ‘No Kids Zone’, but today there are places that elders are not welcome, the signs are not seen, but respect for age, despite the traditional emphasis on respect for elders in Confucianism, rapid modernization and changing social dynamics have led to a rise in age discrimination, particularly in employment and social interactions.
The professor recalls an incident she heard from a senior professor who is about to retire. He went to a newly opened café where he works because he wanted coffee, and sat down at an empty seat at the entrance. But after a while, the waiter approached him with an embarrassed expression and said, “I’m sorry, but could you please move to a seat inside?” The reason was that if an elderly person was at the entrance, the young students would turn away and not come in. Reflecting on it, it seems that there have been numerous places in our society that have not been welcoming to the elderly.
‘No’ carries a lot of context, some of which is very healthy and some of which is not so healthy. When the 'no' is directed towards a person, we have plenty of reason to examine our values and priorities, for the object could be discrimination and even hatred.
As a result, ‘No Kids’ has created negative perceptions about marriage and childbirth, which has spread low birth rates, and ageism has created discrimination and hatred against the elderly, and even possibly the fear of the elderly.
Aging is a universal human development that no human can avoid. No one is born old, and no one is forever young. Just as the elderly of today were young in the past, the young of today will become old in the future. Our lives, in most cases, are mysteries that cannot be predicted. It must mean that we should not be arrogant before the omnipotent God, but live humble, faithful, and devoted lives.
Therefore, we cannot know the secret hidden behind it until we reach that time. Until we reach that age, until we live that time ourselves, we cannot find out the truth of life hidden in the life of that age. Therefore, we are only as ignorant as our current age, and only as wise as our experiences up to now.
However, there is only one way to gain knowledge and wisdom beyond my age and experience. It is through the elders and seniors who have walked the maze of life before us. When Pope Francis declared the ‘World Day for Grandparents and Senior Citizens,’ he said that the vocation of the elderly is to “preserve roots, pass on faith to the young, and care for the young.”
We cannot buy the experience and wisdom of that time without paying the price of 60, 70, or 80 years of our lives. In other words, we can never attain the wisdom of the elderly without becoming elderly. However, God gave us grandparents and senior citizens, allowing us, who are ignorant, to borrow their wisdom.
Generations are connected and circulate continuously. One generation is connected to the next, and then to the next. Breaking the natural order of connection and circulation and disconnecting generations is the path that leads our lives and our society to decline and destruction.
As we experienced during liberation, a country taken by an invasion from another country can be reclaimed. However, a country where a new generation is not born and the population decreases, unable to be passed on to the next generation, will disappear. The moment a generation is cut off, both society and its individuals cease to grow and develop.
Humans are social animals who learn and grow through relationships. Furthermore, we can gain more learning and wisdom through relationships with other generations that precede or follow us than through relationships within the same generation that are equally ignorant.
While Korean culture, traditionally influenced by Confucianism, has emphasized respect for elders and filial piety, rapid modernization and changing social dynamics have strained these values.
