Why are the elderly more highly respected in foreign countries like Japan than in America?
caltam84 asked:
Elderly are more highly respected in foreign countries like Japan and Philippines than America.
Elderly are more highly respected in foreign countries like Japan and Philippines than America.
History behind this?
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October 13th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
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It’s just how the culture is.
In America, life is more fast paced and so people don’t really get the opportunity to spend time with their relatives, and not just parents. For this reason, they grow distant from them through time.
Philippines is influenced by both Asian and Spanish Culture (more than 2000 years old), which happen to exist for a long time. I would assume that in the past, elderly people are valued for their wisdom and ability to decide and be leaders. As for America, America is still a young nation and has not yet seen the full value of what elders are capable of in the society.
I hope this makes sense.
October 15th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
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People forget that America is only a little over 200 years old.
Older countries have a deep tradition and value the wisdom of the elderly. Although I don’t agree with it, our society has progressed so fast so soon that we as a people continue to look ahead without regard to what the past has to offer.
Imagine talking to an elderly person about the internet or spamming.
Once again, I don’t agree, but just stating a reality.
October 16th, 2009 at 8:21 am
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Two very different cultural philosophies. Shame verses guilt. In many cultures the family feels shame if a family member is mistreated or does something wrong, something that embarrasses the family name. American culture is mostly guilt based. We are guilty of ignoring or abusing the elderly, but we bear no shame, since it is not we that are elderly. We believe that each individual bears responsibility for their actions, even growing old.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:14 am
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they tend to live closer, interact more…. if your grandma lives with you, yer durned tootin’ you’ll be respecting her!… but if she lives in CALIF and you’re in NY, there’s little interaction, so little respect until your birthday comes around…..
October 20th, 2009 at 8:28 am
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Because they live in extended family situations. This is the only way they can survive. In the USA parents kick their kids out at 18 (mostly the step parent is behind this). Who can respect a parent that procreates, kicks their spouse to the to the curb, procreates with a new person and neglects you or a mom that treats your dad so bad he doesn’t come around.
If you want to have respect.. you have to earn it.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
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I imagine it comes from respecting those with ‘wisdom’ which generally comes from having lived a long life and the experiences they have lived through, something more countries should take example of. JMO
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 am
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America puts a great emphasis on beauty, which by its very nature is usually wasted on the young. Walk down the street in Los Angeles or Hollywood as a senior citizen, and you will be invisible unless you are a celebrity or powerful person of wealth.
Some countries value wisdom over beauty.
Ah. . . too soon old, too late wise.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:10 am
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This view is also prevalent in Native American cultures in our USA. But the Mayflower interlopers descendants feel it is a throw away society and anything that doesn’t please them gets disgarded.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
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Money, when they see your face , they know you are loaded.
white people knows how to put on a mask.
October 29th, 2009 at 7:06 am
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i think that the eskimos used to put the elderly and infirm out on the ice to either freeze to death or get eaten by a bear. so, maybe we ain’t so bad
October 29th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
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Do you want to know what Japan like?
Japan is without a doubt the most wonderful country in the globe. I lived there for 20 years and fell love with it. The people are amazing, the food is delicious, the cities are great.
Walking down the streets of Tokyo is like walking in a dream. You can look over and see the business-man on his cellular phone talking, and you can look to the other side of your body and see the beggar on the street begging for 2,000 yen. Japan is mainly high-class people, though.
The weather in Japan is always great! There are very few red-light districts and Japanese is a very simple, traditional language to learn, and when in Japan, you do as the Japanese do.