BLAME THEM!
Blame the over 60's Crowd for the collapse of our social System or Blame the system?

Life isn’t easy. But we don’t have much choice in the matter, so we may as well make the best of it.
Sociologists say the outlook for the over 60’s has never been better – but they would say that, wouldn’t they? It makes a great sound bite.

It may be easier for old people to fulfil their dreams these days, but they’re just as blind to the ravages of time as they’ve always been. There’s only one way to reconcile increasing wealth with the declining health, and that’s to pretend you’re immortal and time doesn’t exist. The over-60’s may be as unhappy as ever, but at least they have pill to create a semblance of happiness. And of course Judaeo-Christian charity says we should love and forgive them, encourage them to relive all those bittersweet memories.

These days, there are wrinkles everywhere you look. They’re in all the key jobs, having patiently worked their way up the career ladder until, like time-serving politicians, experience finally reaps its own rewards. For some, however, the realisation of advancing age has brought them face to face with their failures, the children they’ve nurtured now providing an ever-present reminder of their own mortality.

Oh well, at least they’re not expected to start giving away all their money yet. The only thing they’re expected to share at the moment is their experience; do as I say, remember who I am, remember what I’ve done.

These people may have a veneer of responsibility, but they’re actually completely irresponsible, innocently sleepwalking their way through life. One day they’ll wake up to reality, but then it will be too late. So why should we bear them any grudges? Let them enjoy it while it lasts.

However, there are exceptions to the rule. They look just the same as all the other old people, but there are far more of them and they don’t have so much power. Their belief in mankind has failed to save them, and herein lies the contradiction. For the individual is more important than the group, responsibility more important than necessity, wealth more than humanity, the older generation more than the younger.

Women are beautiful, seductive, powerful, courageous, motherly, complex, and sensitive. Their only weakness is that they need men. And men need them.

People know the chances are their marriages won’t last, but they can’t bear to live alone either. So how do you strike a happy medium between the two options? Living together is more risky than staying single, because you’re basically starting out on a whole new life. But when all’s said and done, you could be excused for wondering which is the better alternative, because it’s so hard to achieve piece of mind by finding a balance between them.

Don’t blame the over-60’s for the collapse of social values. Blame the system.

Don’t blame them for the ravages wrought by divorce on three generations. Blame the system.

Don’t blame them for violence in the classroom. Blame the system.

Don’t blame them if everyone is having affairs with everyone else. Blame the system.

And of course there’s the environment. How can you possibly blame them for that? They’ve struggled to better themselves, and they want the best for their kids. Sure, the environment is really important, and the world may be a bit more polluted than it was, but it’s the wealthier too. Don’t blame them! Blame the system!

And the system has certainly paid them back in spades. It’s given them the illusion of happiness, made them fell young, fit, attractive. It’s given them bigger, plastic surgery, chemotherapy for when they get cancer, fancy computers and hi-fi’s, posh houses, respect, more leisure time, designer clothes, espresso, cappuccino, artificial sweeteners.

The Peter Pan generation isn’t just people in their sixties. They syndrome has rubbed off on older people, and it’s also made younger people old and experienced before their time. After all, that’s what progress is all about: give people whole new identities stir up illusions and fantasies and give meaning to things that have no meaning.

And after all, why shouldn’t his generation go out on a high note? Let them keep on dreaming and enjoying the riches of the planet while there are still any left to enjoy. Even if they have left us a bit of poisoned choice.

They’re skimming along on the crest of a wave, with not a care in the world. There may be storm clouds gathering on the horizon, but that’s not their problem. It’s ours.

By: Simon Lelouch

Excerpt From Taxi.
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Photograph by: Dan Bosler