Opinion
SHONA MAIN
shonamain@holyrood.com
Out of the mouth of
babes with brains
STREETVIEW
After the Glenrothes by-election result,
C
ongratulations to Joan Bakewell, public dialogue. There isn’t a ‘Voice for
is the honeymoon over for the SNP
Voice of Older People. She’s been Teenagers’ or a ‘Voice for Them That
Government?
appointed by the Government “as a are Hurtling Towards Middle Age’ for
champion in the fi ght against discrimi- Joan to debate with but she could fi nd Yes, I think it probably is. I think people
nation against older people and a role ways to connect with and dig deep into
were going to give them an opportunity
model for active and positive senior citi- the mindset of the other generations,
to see what they could provide, and
whether they had the capabilities
zens”. challenge some of their notions and con-
to govern rather than just pointing
This is probably a good idea. The atti- front some of the wrong-headed think-
out what everyone else wasn’t doing.
tudes and apparatus of society squanders ing of older people too.
What they have been doing, I think, is
older people’s experience and skills and And then we might get to the root of promising everyone everything and
writes them off far too soon (unless you’re the generational stand off. Sure, young
they don’t have the fi nance to do that. I
an older middle class man: you get to people need to hear what it’s like to be an
think with the credit crunch people are
keep going and keep running everything). older person in today’s world, but older
beginning to reassess and more people
will reckon we need to be part of Britain.
So confronting inequality and a lack of people need to hear what it’s like to be a
Ken Brown
consideration towards older people whilst younger person in today’s world. Older
Civil Servant, Glasgow, 58
extolling the promise of senior citizens people may feel uneasy about what lies
who often have more zip than jip is surely ahead, undervalued, over burdened with
laudable. Joan Bakewell is together, clever, caring duties and scared of young peo-
●
O
null
lder vital and a little bit racy. She has taken on ple, but how do the younger generations
people need
prejudices before and having her around feel? Resigned to the fact they’ll not get
I think reality has come in, and it’s
possibly good for them because it helps
to hear
will positively invigorate the debate. to retire until they’re 70. Annoyed that
them hone their goals and what they
what it’s
Yet something about this makes me the new generation of older people don’t
want to achieve, and it’s not bad to have
come over all chary. I’m sure Joan will appreciate that they lived in a golden age a setback, because you can learn from
like to be
charismatically articulate how we should when higher education was free. Feared,
the setbacks.
a younger
pensioner proof our facilities and services controlled and even criminalised by
Susan Brown
person in (luggage racks that require overhead lift- older people, just because they want to
Works for Edinburgh City Council,
Edinburgh, 41
today’s
ing and diffi cult to open food packaging hang out with their friends.
world
are two of her bugbears) and be a fi ne Joan, with her disarming charm,
role model. But is that it? Doesn’t some- could help us shake out these issues
●
null
thing a little more need to happen if and plump up a better understanding
we’re to learn and appreciate the distinc- between all the generations about the
I think so. I think the SNp is trying to
tive contribution that older people offer challenges of ageing, which, after all,
instill a feeling of Scottishness, but it’s
society and help the generations gel? starts when you’re born.
not about being Scottish, they seem
to be trying to divide the country up
I doubt voicing older people’s con- Our older people are effectively the
rather than keep it united. What has
cerns and needs can change the way the grandparents of the nation. We should
Alex Salmond done about the banks?
younger generations perceive them. It love and appreciate them more but they He tries to blame Westminster but he’s
might do the very opposite. Consider the need to be led out of the cul de sac of in charge here, he’s the one seen all over
fl awed approach of the Scottish Senior complaint, fear and worry that the media
the country with all the big shots. I feel
Citizens Unity Party, the most depressing and some of their number have coralled
he, rather than focusing on the issues,
takes every chance to put the Labour
political movement of the last few years. them in to. What Joan needs to be is a Pro-
government down. Maybe they’re not
Had they been about championing the gressive Voice of Older People. Of course,
great, but what are you up to? Business
contribution older people could make to let’s help make their lives easier, more pro-
rates reductions are not making any
society and letting pensioners play a big- ductive and more fulfi lling but we need to difference to the fact our biggest banks
ger part in everyone’s future, I’d have voted hear more about the role they must play,
crashed.
for them. Sadly, all they did was wave lists as curators of lessons learned, defenders of
Susan Brown
of things they should get for free. What a values worth holding onto and encourag-
Works for Edinburgh City Council,
Edinburgh, 41
lost opportunity. What a huge disservice to ers of the generations below them.
our older generations. What a ruinous PR I am all for Joan and her task ahead
exercise for our older people. but there’s more to this than just what the
●
Maybe what’s really needed is less country can do for older people. It’s what
advocating and more engagement: a older people can do for their country. HM
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www.holyrood.com | Holyrood magazine | 17 November 2008 |
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