We senior citizens

This just came in from a friend -- looking like one of those tedious spam e-mails.  Anonymous of course; and inspired I guess by this week's Australia Day.  Rather than delete it, I'm sharing it with you.

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for

every conceivable deficiency of the modern world,

real or imaginary. 

We know we take responsibility for all we have done and

do not blame others.

HOWEVER,

upon reflection, we would like to point out

that it was NOT the senior citizens who took:

    The melody out of music,
    The pride out of appearance,
    The courtesy out of driving,
    The romance out of love,
    The commitment out of marriage,

    The responsibility out of parenthood,
    The togetherness out of the family,
    The learning out of education,
    The service out of patriotism,
    The Golden Rule from rulers,
    The nativity scene out of cities,
    The civility out of behaviour,
    The refinement out of language,
    The dedication out of employment,
    The prudence out of spending,
    The ambition out of achievement, or,
    God out of government and school.

And we certainly are NOT the ones

who eliminated

         patience and tolerance

from personal relationships and interactions with others!! 

And, we do understand the meaning of patriotism,

and remember those who have fought and died

for our country. 

                             
Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes

and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention,

on Remembrance Day and our Country's birthday .

Comments

[Account Deleted]

Ummmm....sounds like something from the Northern Hemisphere, modified slightly for local conditions. The "God out of Government and School" is the giveaway.

[elsewhere]

Was the email from John Howard? He's having a rant at the moment about manners (personally I run into heaps of youngsters with Macdonaldsified sales manners -- I'm not sure what's worse, those without or those with!)

We used to say 'I honour my God, I serve my Queen, I am loyal to my school, I salute the flag' at school assemblies...high school as well as primary.

[Buck 1936]

Yes I would say it is as Tjilpi says and is someone from the Northern Hemisphere; I stopped those anonymous comments on my Blog.

[Tjilpi]

Jude, you've done it again. You've got me going. For an academic year ('64-'65) I used to stand, but not put my hand over my heart, as I listened each morning to my high school classmates say the Pledge of Allegiance.

I was a skeptic; but I thought that by remaining seated I might have provided too much of a challenge to some of the people I was surrounded by.

Today I did some research and found the following:

The last change in the Pledge of Allegiance occurred on June 14 (Flag Day), 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved adding the words "under God". As he authorized this change he said:

"In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America's heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country's most powerful resource in peace and war."


This was the last change made to the Pledge of Allegiance. The 23 words what had been initially penned for a Columbus Day celebration now comprised a Thirty-one profession of loyalty and devotion to not only a flag, but to a way of life....the American ideal. Those words now read:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag
of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands:
one Nation under God, indivisible,
With Liberty and Justice for all.

The way that I see it is that there is an ongoing argument in the US about whether Eisenhower was right or wrong to have inserted God into the Pledge.

Your Seniors Person is on the side which believes he was right. It's the old division-of-Church-and-State issue.

I was impressed by Australia when Hawke declared himself an atheist while Prime Minister. The country barely took notice; but finally sacked him for other reasons.

[joared]

This sounds like something out of the U.S. since issues of separation of church and state were thrust into the political arena. When I consider our Pilgrims presumably came here seeking religious freedom the waters start to get a little muddy. Seems to me we should all be able to peacefully co-exist which ever side of the issue we take. Perhaps both sides could just agree to disagree. Think there are enough serious problems our country and the world faces, our energies would be better spent addressing them.

I appreciate hearing the perspective those in other countries have on what's going on in my own. Others sometimes seem better informed about my country than I am theirs. Am trying to rectify that a bit.

[Jude]

I posted this in a light-hearted vein, aware of its likely origins even though it had been appropriated to express an Australian patriotism. I stay out of discussions on politics, but they were good last comments, Tj and Joared. They shouldn't be hidden away here, but deserve airing more widely in your own blogs.

[Tjilpi]

Jude - as I was writing my comment I thought to myself that it was big enough to be a post on my site, and that I shouldn't be using your site as a soapbox - and then I thought that it didn't quite fit with my current theme on parasites, so I left it there!!

[joared]

I enjoyed your post, jude, and all the comments. When I spoke of "we" and "us" I was referring to those of us in the U.S., since I'm most aware of what a divisive issue it is here. I do have views beyond what I expressed, but I know you prefer political comments to be aired elsewhere, which I want to respect.

I really found the deficiencies for which the author says senior citizens should not be blamed, quite fun to read. I was especially struck by the melody missing from music, the loss of refinement in language. Wonder if every generation might make some of these observations about the younger ones?

While it did have melody, there were other less than thrilling qualities for me,when my mother played one of her favorite tunes: Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald singing "Indian Love Call." Didn't exactly move me in the same way as it, apparently, did her.

As for the refinement of language, I continue to be intrigued by the power so many "unacceptable" words hold for both speaker and listener. I was taught at my mother's knee, using such words, especially repeatedly, was an indication of lack of education. The implication being the individual did not have other words at their disposal with which to express themselves. Growing up, what utter rebellion to sneak one or two in, under my breath, on occasion. Can't say I totally abstain even now, and may have even uttered a few aloud. There are still some which seem more than a little overused today, in certain music, movies, some discourse, which seem to bear out my mother's teachings.

[Jude]

A lot of things may have gone to the dogs, but even so, I'm happy with the 'here and now' and have no real desire to go back to the good old days. (Love my computer, television and air-conditioning too much!) The good thing is that we still can - each one of us - elect to maintain the old standards and incorporate all of those old-fashioned desirable qualities into the way we conduct our own lives.

[Jerry]

Jude,
I attend my Dad's WWII reunion every year. At the banquet, it is quite emotional to watch these veterans who can barely stand or walk, get up for the color guard and salute the flag. They truly are the greatest generation.

Great post!