Fred Branfman on "The Making of an Elder Culture"

[Louisiana1976]

Was it bitter then with our backs against the wall?
Were we better men than we’d ever been before?
Say, if she came again today, would you still answer to the call?
Tell the truth, my friend, don’t it matter anymore?


—from “Living Legend,” by Kris Kristofferson

Could the demographics and economics of a giant aging baby-boom generation unleash long-repressed pools of youthful idealism to produce a new “elder culture”? Could boomer seniors finally realize the failed hopes of their youth for a socially just, environmentally sane, nonmaterialistic and peaceful America? And, whatever happens to society as a whole, can old age, health scares and greater proximity to death produce psychological and spiritual breakthroughs for individual boomers that vastly enrich and deepen their lives?

As I read Theodore Roszak’s lyrical passages in “The Making of an Elder Culture” about the possibilities of personal transformation through aging I remembered Hans, a fellow with AIDS with whom I used to meditate. The light, joy and spiritual energy he emanated made believable his claim that his illness had brought his life to new levels of joy. I was spellbound one morning, for example, as he described consciously taking several hours rather than his usual 20 minutes to walk to the Berkeley Co-op. He spoke vividly of the people, animals, homes, shops, trees, flowers, plant life; the shape and texture of the clouds; the thinking behind the use of space; the green areas; the way traffic was directed; how people treated their pets. I left our talk joyful myself, as often occurs for those interacting with someone who has had a taste of enlightenment.

snip

http://www.truthdig.com/arts_culture/item/fred_branfman_on_the_making_of_an_elder_culture_20091126/?ln

[BeFree]

1. Change happens

Whether we accept it with grace or not remains to be seen.

We can, as Bushco does, make war on the changes, or accept and adapt peacefully. Time will tell.