TEXTO I
YOUNG AND OLD THRIVE SIDE BY SIDE
As a woman in my 90’s, I have empathy for those who will come after me and live into their 100’s and beyond. They will, I trust, include my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom I have quite a few. I have some thoughts for those planning the quality of life to be enjoyed by this stunningly larger older population to come. The way things are going now, as I see it, the 21st century will be witness to two segments of society — the elderly and the rest of the human race. My word is: Please do not keep them apart.
I have lived through the civil rights movement; I have worked with women trying hard to achieve equality with men; I have marched with gays and lesbians in their fight against discrimination. But alas, I now see a new struggle looming ahead: over segregation by age.
I find it curious to listen to the talk about family values and closer family ties (conjuring up images of four generations living under one Victorian roof) and then read about money being invested in housing for the elderly. Housing for the elderly? Why not teenage housing or housing for young married couples?
In a society that aims to be inclusive, why should older people be encouraged to live in a separate community? Most senior housing complexes are sterile — totally lacking the vitality that a generationally mixed community thrives on. Many people face old age just waiting to die, so society (and developers and the government) hand them a group of “activities” to keep them busy, to keep them occupied among people their own age, out of the sight of children, away from a flourishing community. Too often they have limited access to streets to walk on; shops to visit; churches, libraries, museums and other cultural centers. They are relegated to a life where they see only reflections of themselves, other old people.
Housing complexes ought to be designed for all ages, with some apartments appropriate for older people and others suited to the needs of younger people with families. Young mothers, as well as the elderly, can benefit from what is now offered in many senior complexes, like in-house restaurants, beauty parlors, libraries, and on-site nurses and doctors. And many planned “activities” can be enjoyed by all ages. A painting class, for example, is more fun when not limited to old people.
For sure, age-integrated housing will not cure the generation gap, but perhaps it is a way to help older people get over adopting judgmental attitudes toward the young — being horrified at dyed hair, baggy clothes, pierced bodies — without ever having a five- minute conversation with any of them. As for young people, it would do them no harm to live side by side with older people, to really see us day by day, recognize that we are still people, men and women who were once as young as they are, and that like us, if they are lucky, they will one day be old too. We have a lot in common.
We are all just people, and we should be neighbors living on the same street.
(HILA COLMAN. Wednesday, August 15, 2001)
No 4º parágrafo podem ser identificados alguns questionamentos da autora em relação à velhice. Explique
a) A contradição apresentada na pergunta que abre este parágrafo;
b) Uma consequência das restrições impostas aos idosos.