Ageism an issue in the criticism of Obama's choice for Ambassador to China

[caption id="attachment_21990" align="alignleft" width="214"] Senator Max Baucus[/caption]

President Barack Obama's choice of Ambassador to China, Montana Senator Max Baucus, has received criticism from some of the public and the media that Senator Baucus is too old for the job.  He is 72 years old.  But is that age a serious barrier to his ability to serve in the capacity of Ambassador to China, even in the face of the smog conditions that exist in the country?


Age is one of the barriers not just in politics but in the arts and business too.  Age 65 has been the usual and customary retirement age for individuals in the United States, with some of the European countries having even earlier periods for retirement.  Yet age continues to be one the principal barriers to gaining positions in politics, the arts, business and even in social arenas.

Nelson Mandela was  75 when he was elected President of South Africa.  Ronald Reagan was just two weeks short of his 70th birthday when he was elected President of the United States.     Colonel Sanders was 65+ when he started the Kentucky Fried Chicken business with only his secret chicken recipe and Social Security check to support him at the outset.  Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor was appointed to the Court at age 51 and served a quarter of a century to age 75, when she left her position on the Court to be available for her husband's care.

There are many more examples of people in their 60's, 70's and 80's working or volunteering around the world, even under difficult conditions.  Yet age remains a barrier in many arenas, leaving seniors with limited choices when they reach a certain age.  In music, most of the reality shows focus on youth.  American Idol has a restriction for those who wish to appear on that show.  Other reality shows, such as The Voice, seldom, if ever, have a performer over the age of 50.  Business places people on retirement status at that certain age of 65, while those same businesses will advertise for senior volunteers they don't have to pay. Ageism remains a concern to those healthy and able seniors.  In the case of the appointment of Senator Max Baucus, other criteria, such as whether he has relevant experience in Asian affairs remains reasonable; but the fact of his age as a barrier reveals the misconceptions about the elderly that continues to drive much of the culture around the world.

So what’s ‘Old’ and ‘Young’?

Ernest Dempsey — This week, I had a brief email Q & A with a number of writers, mostly senior citizens, on their thoughts about “aging and elders”, since that is the theme of the next issue of my journal Recovering the Self. One of the writers contacted for this correspondence was Heyward B. Ewart, Ph.D., President of St. James the Elder Theological Seminary, that combines distance learning with close personal interaction and supervised experience. He is the author of AM I BAD? Recovering from Abuse (2007) and SOUL RAPE: Recovering Personhood After Abuse (set for October release, Loving Healing Press). He is also Patriarch of the Holy Catholic Church International. Below are Father Ewart’s responses to my question about aging.

Ernest: What do “old” and “young” mean to you?

Heyward: “Young” means endless possibilities for a fulfilling life but all depends on finding out why we were born. The only way to get the answer is to ask our Creator. Trial and error always fail. “Old” means that you either did or didn’t get the answer. Most people go to their graves without ever discovering why they have lived.

Ernest: How does aging enrich our life?

Heyward: If your life has been lived well, you can thoroughly enjoy fulfillment and look forward to each new day. You can find new challenges built upon what you have already learned and find many paths to make your own happiness. If you have never developed a sense of self according to how God sees you, you have nothing to look forward to but the end.

Ernest: What is the worst thing about aging that makes one dread it?

Heyward: The worst thing is loneliness; that is, never being able to be as involved with your loved ones as you so desperately want to be. The next worst thing is a feeling of helplessness especially when sick.

Ernest: Your comment on our how our time’s media, including entertainment industry, generally picture the elderly.

Heyward: The media too often portray the elderly as has-beens with nothing to offer, when the very opposite is true. As recently as 50 years ago, old people were seen as a priceless resource for wisdom and guidance.

Ernest: What is one thing we must remember when we see the first silver threads in our hair?

Heyward: When we see the first silver threads in our hair, it is time to wake up and redouble our efforts to contribute all we can to the young.



To read more about Father Ewart, follow the link http://stjamestheelderseminary.org/Home_Page.php.