Unfair Stereotypes Plague Senior Citizens, Society

My hair is gray, but I use a Nordic Track three times a week and am interested in how my country is planning for the future of my grandchildren and yours, too. I study things and keep learning new skills. I volunteer my time and talents. I am 67 and I am tired of being lumped in with all the “senior citizens” out there.

I would like to start a revolution against the use of labels to represent people over 60. I suppose that “baby-boomers” are also weary of their canned predictable descriptions. Either way a label is clapped on, the person loses their individualilty, gets canceled out. I want to yell out that each of us seniors is different. I do not want to be bundled up in one category because my hair is gray and I have accumulated some years.

According to the newscasters, or anyone speaking loosely as an authority, being a “senior” means that he or she is against all kinds of responsibility for the next generations and likes to live in lavish comfort no matter who it hurts in the future. And certainly they will not vote for any school or playground issues. Is it laziness or arrogance on the part of these “experts?” Mixing with some seniors will show a far different reality. But that would take time. Also it keeps us seniors in that slightly humorous category associated with narrow interests and blue hair.

My husband and I called our senators and our representative and told them to do whatever it took to balance the budget, because of our concern for our children and their children. That is not news, but let one older person complain about their government supports being threatened and we hear that the seniors are upset and the legislators are bowing to the pressure.

An impersonally personal thing is happening to me. I am being represented by generalities. No one ever says, “I wonder if all seniors feel like this?” It is always reported as solid information. I study the Bible, yet if I say that I am also a Christian, whoops! There will be another label that will mold me into someone foolishly conservative and close-minded.

I know that media people and the so-called experts cannot ask each senior about every issue. But please be more cautious. Include the individual. Block out the labeling system that dehumanizes me. And all of us.