When astro-biologists ask the question, it relates to humanoids on other planets. When the elderly in Shorewood ask, it means, does anyone care?
What if one were alone in the universe, on an empty planet as Adam was with no one to cry out to and no one to care? Imagine the loneliness that Adam felt. He was so lonely that he was willing to give up a rib so that God could create a friend.
From that time on, the reproduction of little human beings has not required the need of ribs. As a result, our world at this time in its development, has billions of people, many lonely ones, even surrounded by thousands of other people who do not have time to care.
They may cry out but there is no one there to create a friend or playmate.
Sometimes when I meet people for the first time, sophisticated in manner, I try to visualize them as children and how we would innocently approach each other and soon find ourselves playing, not too interested in impressing the other with our own importance.
Our public school systems provide places for children to meet other children and to play. The imposed need to impress others comes later. Playing together was more fun. On the other hand, engaging in separating ourselves from others becomes more difficult and leads to loneliness.
Shorewood as other communities, has established a school district under state laws for the purpose of educating children in its district. The public school system acts both as a child sitting and a learning institution, a concept utilized throughout the country. Kids then have something to do and along with others do not have to feel lonely.
On the other hand, we do not have a state established elderly community development system that will provide similar attention for these children later on in life when they become elderly and when some often become lonely.
I'm therefore, suggesting that because the school districts are already established and because they already have the facilities and the type of personnel, that with certain modifications, could be made to serve the elderly in many ways, that we therefore take a “rib” from this organism, the school system, to create and accommodate certain programs.
I'm not suggesting health care and extended care facilities and similar programs, but programs accessible to the elderly that are as useful to them as the various programs are to children. That these programs be established through the school system to improve the lives of the elderly of the community and make them feel of significance within our society. If we can improve the tax base, why can't we improve the human base?
It is here within our school districts where we can show respect to people who have contributed to improving the tax base, making it possible to sustain school districts for decades before today and where we can extend the usefulness of these citizens within our communities. Each attending senior could be counted in the same manner as each enrolled student as to benefits from the state.
While these senior adults have contributed and continue to contribute millions to their school districts, no one recognizes their contributions. Instead, some would replace these seniors with younger families with children. Becoming a senior citizen takes years to accomplish and no one is spared that task and these later events if fortune permits.
We recognize the need for education for the children, let's now recognize the needs of our senior citizens in our communities. We don't want these older adults to think or speak aloud, “are we alone” in this universe?
Let the astro-biololgists be the true possessors of that question. Let the community members respect the elders and let's take that “rib” from this organism, the school system and go through the operation.
Serious, meaningful programs designed for the elderly within our present school systems seems the best way to prove to the elders of our communities that they are not alone in this universe.
