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Wise seniors should show concern for others
By Lena Zhang |
October 19, 2011, Wednesday
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EDITOR'S Note: Many elderly people in Shanghai have very good public manners, but Lena Zhang rightly calls attention to the undesired behavior of some old people in the city. Readers' comments are welcome.
NOWADAYS the issue of an aging population is on the minds and lips of many demographers, economists, and common people alike.
An urgent question of public policy is how we can tackle the problem of an increasingly unfavorable dependency ratio, and as a result, a fast-shrinking pool of pension funds to keep body and soul of elders together.
Most think of the pressure of a fast-aging society on younger generations in financial terms only. My humble observations during my sporadic visits to Shanghai in recent years, however, suggest that another problem deserving just as much attention, might be present.
And that problem is not simply elders' lack of an adequate income but rather elders' consideration for other members of society.
For example, when seniors' cards were issued to people over 70 about four years ago, they swarmed onto buses in peak hours, often crowding out office commuters who were in a rush to get to work. When Australia introduced such a concession (without the off-peak constraints), their elders, as if by some tacit agreement, rarely showed up on public transport when others needed it the most.
Similarly, when parks opened their gates to our elders free of charge, they probably didn't expect to see a nightmare unfold.
Not only did the now non-paying visitors take up much of the space around the clock, many also took household chores like peeling vegetables into the park and left rubbish scattered all over.
I gave up the habit of going for a stroll in my beautiful neighborhood early in the morning because what I had seen had pained me too much - retirees practicing pull-ups on a quivering tree branch, quarreling with nearby residents over their loud morning exercise ritual, or violently beating the pretty ginkgo trees for a share of free fruits to take home, and other such antisocial behavior.
China has a long tradition of respecting the elderly, which is undoubtedly a virtue, as long as the respect is directed at the right subject, and for a good reason. Lately this centuries-old tradition appears to have been altered to include a lowering of moral standards and an uncritical outcry of support for elders, simply because they are old.
Some elders are lapping up this unfortunate metamorphosis of tradition. If the problem doesn't seem significant now, it will be in several years time when the numbers of elderly really boom.
Our elders are supposed to set a good example for young people, beginning by teaching their own children to always keep others in mind and to appreciate, not bite, the helping hand extended to them. How else could any good come out of the abundant life's experience they can draw on?
The average monthly pension in Shanghai is around 2,000 yuan (US$314). This figure, although not large, is still quite reasonable compared with the average monthly income of the working population (currently around 5,500 yuan), and in line with the universal idea of having the work force help sustain a modest life after retirement. As part of a developing economy, Shanghai has done a pretty good job in providing for its senior citizens.
I'm a firm believer in aging with dignity, and a big supporter for giving preferential treatment to our elders under special circumstances, be it financially or in terms of priorities. And our young people certainly need to be taught to respect and care for their elders.
I just hope that our elders would make it a little easier for all of us.
The author is a freelancer who now lives in Shanghai. The views are her own.
NOWADAYS the issue of an aging population is on the minds and lips of many demographers, economists, and common people alike.
An urgent question of public policy is how we can tackle the problem of an increasingly unfavorable dependency ratio, and as a result, a fast-shrinking pool of pension funds to keep body and soul of elders together.
Most think of the pressure of a fast-aging society on younger generations in financial terms only. My humble observations during my sporadic visits to Shanghai in recent years, however, suggest that another problem deserving just as much attention, might be present.
And that problem is not simply elders' lack of an adequate income but rather elders' consideration for other members of society.
For example, when seniors' cards were issued to people over 70 about four years ago, they swarmed onto buses in peak hours, often crowding out office commuters who were in a rush to get to work. When Australia introduced such a concession (without the off-peak constraints), their elders, as if by some tacit agreement, rarely showed up on public transport when others needed it the most.
Similarly, when parks opened their gates to our elders free of charge, they probably didn't expect to see a nightmare unfold.
Not only did the now non-paying visitors take up much of the space around the clock, many also took household chores like peeling vegetables into the park and left rubbish scattered all over.
I gave up the habit of going for a stroll in my beautiful neighborhood early in the morning because what I had seen had pained me too much - retirees practicing pull-ups on a quivering tree branch, quarreling with nearby residents over their loud morning exercise ritual, or violently beating the pretty ginkgo trees for a share of free fruits to take home, and other such antisocial behavior.
China has a long tradition of respecting the elderly, which is undoubtedly a virtue, as long as the respect is directed at the right subject, and for a good reason. Lately this centuries-old tradition appears to have been altered to include a lowering of moral standards and an uncritical outcry of support for elders, simply because they are old.
Some elders are lapping up this unfortunate metamorphosis of tradition. If the problem doesn't seem significant now, it will be in several years time when the numbers of elderly really boom.
Our elders are supposed to set a good example for young people, beginning by teaching their own children to always keep others in mind and to appreciate, not bite, the helping hand extended to them. How else could any good come out of the abundant life's experience they can draw on?
The average monthly pension in Shanghai is around 2,000 yuan (US$314). This figure, although not large, is still quite reasonable compared with the average monthly income of the working population (currently around 5,500 yuan), and in line with the universal idea of having the work force help sustain a modest life after retirement. As part of a developing economy, Shanghai has done a pretty good job in providing for its senior citizens.
I'm a firm believer in aging with dignity, and a big supporter for giving preferential treatment to our elders under special circumstances, be it financially or in terms of priorities. And our young people certainly need to be taught to respect and care for their elders.
I just hope that our elders would make it a little easier for all of us.
The author is a freelancer who now lives in Shanghai. The views are her own.
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