Society’s values

Press, 23 October 1989, Page 16

Society’s values

Sir,—Why are those controlling our society neglecting to recognise, or dignify, our older citizens (and, indeed, homeipakers) for their part in building • and maintaining genuinely beneficial aspects of society? Is it because in powerful quarters their knowledge and wisdom born of experience (to whatever degree) is considered of no account and no usefulness in life as it is lived today? Does this pinpoint something of what is wrong in today’s orientation? Does it pinpoint partly why noone of any age group seems particularly contented within that orientation? Those in authority should not ignore and thereby degrade the old, the poor, the very young, and the wise by putting them aside to allow certain of the remaining sectors to get on with the contriving towards big money, the apparent goal being to be able to “afford” huge, vastly expensive buildings — some over-ornate, others simply ugly — all of them monuments to materialism and to false, blown-up values as to what constitutes “richness” and “success,” “necessity” and “usefulness,” in life.—Yours, etc., N. W. SANDERSON. October 19, 1989.