By Marjorie A. Gordon-DeLee, MA (December 14, 2018)
As an Elderly person, I am now forced into Homelessness by many Leaders and people of South Carolina; Where is the respect for Senior Citizens, compassion and caring hearts of the Leaders and the public servants for the citizens that they are to represent?
For the past several months (6 months and 10 days to be exact), after moving away out of the clutches of the citizens of the Lowcountry of South Carolina (Hampton, Colleton, Beaufort Counties) and back to Columbia, SC I have diligently worked seeking to supplement my Social Security monthly income to remain an independent citizen in this society. Using all of the knowledge, skills, and abilities in which I have acquired throughout my 64 years on this earth to become self-employed as a Consultant. Not only as a Consultant but to also be an Activitist for the people who are in need of assistance and services in this State of South Carolina to sustain them in their daily living. There are so many people who are living in poverty, so many homeless people already (I will become one additional homeless person soon); more shelter needed for the domestic violence victims, as well as more housing needed for the Baby Boomers (who are given absolutely no respect).
I have been called an “EMBARASSING MISTAKE” through the many other harassment of all the emails sent to my inbox with subliminal messages attacking me in order to deter me from continuing my pursuit as well as all the documented attacks against me on my YouTube Videos posted on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100010268133489; https://www.facebook.com/Change-Your-Ways-Ministry-2073667532882484/; https://www.facebook.com/Gordon-DeLee-Consulting-LLC-2290740674275968/; and on my consulting website at https://gordondeleeconsult.wixsite.com/mysite. The people who are hiding in the bushes (in the dark) are the ones who are an EMBARASSMENT to this State of South Carolina. Shame on YOU, whoever you are!
Why, as a citizen of the State of South Carolina and of this United States of America, can I not use my voice to speak out and be heard just as any other human being. It is my RIGHT! Are special hand selected people only to have a voice in this land of the free in which we live? If we do not speak up for ourselves, no one else will. If we do not fight for our own rights in this society, it appears through “MY” countless experiences that no one else will. They lack in compassion and care to do that for another human being unless they control them through being manhandled.
I have been manhandled through Witchcraft (Spells). There is no human being on this earth that can be changed by being manhandled. Webster Dictionary defines manhandle as to handle roughly or to move or manage by force. Sadly, so many people have this mindset. Many people want to be God and change someone or something that God has already created exactly the way that He intended for them to be. To change someone from the image that God has already created them is to cause them not to be their true, authentic self. If they are not being their true, authentic self, then what they are really being is an artificial human being, living their life as a fake or a phony just to please someone else. To make someone else happy. Who on this earth can have a happy life living with this falsity? We should all strive to be as happy as we can be with exactly who we were born to be and not depend on anyone else to make us happy. This is when we are the happiest.
A person can only be whom they choses to become by making the changes within themselves not be forced by another human being to be or to do otherwise simply to please the other person. If people would just get that through their thick heads, this would be just another contribution to making this world a much better place to live.
I have noticed since coming into this era of my life as a Senior Citizen (one of the Baby Boomers, an Elderly person), how disrespectful many of the younger generation is in this workforce. When being served by many in this younger generation, for some reason they believe that they are on the same level as you, the Senior Citizen. Many in this younger generation will either call that elderly person, sweetie, honey, baby or some other demeaning condescending name or simply call them by their first names without using a title as Mr., Ms., or Mrs. as they should. By using these titles, they are showing some respect for that elderly person. That is totally disrespectful to our elderly people and quite frankly need to Stop.
This disrespectfulness has been experienced and observed from many of this younger generation working in the public who were hired to serve and show care and compassion to ALL the people they serve in this organizations (state government agencies, nonprofit organizations, grocery stores, department stores, and many of the other businesses and organizations).
If this younger generation was not trained at home to respect their elders as they were growing up does not mean that they should not know any better now as an adult. They need to have the common decency to realize that their elders need the utmost respect from them at all times. Not some Senior Citizens, but all Senior Citizens.
On my visit to the Christopher Towers Apartment, I stood up after sitting and asked if the Director of the facility was in and the Receptionist said that he was in his office. I asked to speak with him as I stood and she told me to just set down and wait. I did not want to sit down and I found that command to be rude. Not in the statement itself per say, but in the manner in which it was communicated. It was not in a pleasant tone of voice. The message that I received from this Receptionist was more so demanding me to sit down as if she was talking to a child. Well, at 64 years old I do not need to have anyone tell me when to sit when I do not feel a need to sit. I certainly hope that all the other Senior Citizens living in this apartment complex are not spoken to in such a demeaning and condescending tone of voice. If a Senior Citizen is living in a low-income apartment complex or if they are paying $5,000 or $1,500 per month; they all require the same amount of respect at all times.
I also found the building to be of poor upkeep. The curtains seen from the windows was not appealing from the outside, whose to say what it looks like on the inside of this building for the Senior Citizens to live in and feel a sense of dignity as they continue to live their lives to the fullest extent.
Additionally, I also experienced disrespect when I spoke with an Executive Director (age range between 35 to 45 years old) of a nonprofit organization just two weeks ago when I spoke with her over the telephone. I submitted an application for a service with this organization therefore the Director knew what my age was from her review of my application. When she answered the telephone and I presented myself to her as Ms. DeLee; she refused to repeat my name by simply saying, “Hello, Ms. DeLee; she wanted to be rude and not acknowledge me in a respectful manner and simply asked, “what is your first name?”. I stated it is, Ms. Marjorie DeLee. She then proceeded with the conversation and repeated my name without the title in which I directly provided her to address me as and she said, “Marjorie”. This was a blatant act of disrespect toward me and I am most certain that this individual treat other Senior Citizens in the same manner with total disrespect. These are only two of many, many occasions in which I have been disrespected as an elderly person, a Senior Citizen. And I have observed many other Senior Citizens being treated disrespectful and rude by this younger generation in the workforce as well.
A leader in the community whose to be seen as a role model for young girls should not be teaching these young girls or young boys to be disrespectful with no manners or regard for the Senior Citizens in this community or in this world. Whatever behaviors that you display to your employees, children, or other young people in the community will be mimicked by them. Because if the Receptionist or Executive Director is rude to one Senior Citizen, then all chances are that these individuals have been and will continue to be disrespectful and rude to other Senior Citizens as well.
Frankly, to all of our existing younger generational leaders in the community who’s not providing common decency respectfulness to our Senior Citizens without being rude and condescending to them, I would like to make a suggestion to you on today to start giving the respect to these Senior Citizens that is due to them. These Seniors have a thing or two to teach all of you believe it or not. Stop trying to compete with them and start to listen and learn some valuable lessons that will make your life better. Do not talk over them whilst they are talking to you, but listen attentively to every word that is spoken out of their mouth in an attempt to learn some valuable information to help you. Life lessons and wisdom far exceeds any book knowledge that you have received.
According to the Census Bureau's "middle series" projections, the elderly population will more than double between now and the year 2050, to 80 million. By that year, as many as 1 in 5 Americans could be elderly (Google).
Between 2010 and 2050, the U.S. population is projected to grow from 310 million to 439 million, an increase of 42 percent…. The population is also expected to become much older, with nearly one in five U.S. residents aged 65 and older in 2030 (US Census).
With this population of Senior Citizens being of such a vast number will continue to grow, it does appear that a substantial amount of training needs to be conducted in the workforce as far as providing respect to our Senior Citizens when serving them in the public. Being rude, lacking empathy, care and concern for others are never good behaviors to possess. Fortunately, bad behaviors can be changed if you would put forth the effort to do so. Changing for the better is always good.
“Common grace and manners are to treat our elders with dignity and respect. Sadly, instead of treating our elders with the appreciation and respect they deserve, many are often either too busy or simply dismiss them and their contributions to their community and family (Larsen, 2018).”
Why It’s Important to Treat Our Elders With Respect by Larsen (2018):
Seniors have a thing or two to teach us about enduring change and handling life’s adversity. Even if a senior’s hearing or memory isn’t what it was in the past, our elders have great wisdom to impart.
Younger generations must learn the importance of respecting their elders and make time to listen and spend quality with them.
Dr. Cheryl Woodson, a geriatrician and the author of “To Survive Caregiving: A Daughter’s Experience, A Doctor’s Advice” feels very strongly about treating elders with the respect they deserve:
“I hate it when people call seniors ‘cute.’ My 89-year old Aunt Terri does all the seating charts for events and trips for her senior group. She taught five-line dancing classes a year until two years ago when she thought her hearing loss made her a less effective teacher, even though her classes disagreed… These people are powerful. They created the comforts younger Americans take for granted. They are not cute like babies or puppies, and I think it’s demeaning to treat them as though they are. We must treat our elders with respect, even if their bodies or minds are beginning to fail them.”
When Ageism Is Rampant
People can become uncomfortable dealing with the emotions of aging and the trials and tribulations of the golden years, which contributes to ageism. Ageism is defined as a tendency to regard older persons as debilitated, unworthy of attention.
Unfortunately, this sentiment is rampant, but we have to remember that seniors are knowledgeable people who have something to contribute to society in the wisdom they’ve gained from their life histories, even if it’s a story about life or history. It’s more than respect — it’s about really taking the time to listen to our grandparents and parents (Larsen, 2018).
In my conclusion of this writing I would like to say that during the next few days as I transition into homelessness as a Baby Boomer, Senior Citizen, one of the Elderly people in the State of South Carolina, City of Columbia, SC (Richland County; family members included), and amongst the other millions of other homeless people in this world, that we need more leaders, public servants, and quite frankly just people to begin to show more care, concern, compassion, kindness, to another living human being as they carry out their duties in serving others. If this is something that is not within your ability, step aside and allow someone with a heart (compassion) for people to perform the job in which you are paid to do.
Resource
Google. Retrieved December 13, 2018 from https://www.google.com/search?q=population+of+senior+citizens+in+america+today&ie=&oe=
Larsen, D. (2018). Why It’s Important to Treat Our Elders With Respect. Retrieved on December 13, 2018 from https://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2-04-16-treating-the-elderly-with-respect-and-dignity/
US Census Bureau. Retrieved December 13, 2018 from https://wUww.census.gov/prod/2010pubs/p25-1138.pdf
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