New Law: "Protection of Rights, Interests of Elderly People"

[AndyDufresne]

...in China.

NY Times Reporting:

...

The government enacted a law on Monday aimed at compelling adult children to visit their aging parents. The law, called “Protection of the Rights and Interests of Elderly People,” has nine clauses that lay out the duties of children and their obligation to tend to the “spiritual needs of the elderly.”

Children should go home “often” to visit their parents, the law said, and occasionally send them greetings. Companies and work units should give employees enough time off so they can make parental visits.

The law was passed in December by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress. It does not stipulate any punishments for people who neglect their parents. Nevertheless, that officials felt the need to make filial duty a legal matter is a reflection of the monumental changes taking place throughout Chinese society.

...

Full Article

Tangentially related, when I was a younger man, my first real job was at an nursing home/elderly care facility, which I worked at for quite a few years part-time. It is a great experience, and one I often think back on.

So, discuss the law.


--Andy

[Woodruff]

...in China.

NY Times Reporting:

...

The government enacted a law on Monday aimed at compelling adult children to visit their aging parents. The law, called “Protection of the Rights and Interests of Elderly People,” has nine clauses that lay out the duties of children and their obligation to tend to the “spiritual needs of the elderly.”

Children should go home “often” to visit their parents, the law said, and occasionally send them greetings. Companies and work units should give employees enough time off so they can make parental visits.

The law was passed in December by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress. It does not stipulate any punishments for people who neglect their parents. Nevertheless, that officials felt the need to make filial duty a legal matter is a reflection of the monumental changes taking place throughout Chinese society.

...

Full Article

Tangentially related, when I was a younger man, my first real job was at an nursing home/elderly care facility, which I worked at for quite a few years part-time. It is a great experience, and one I often think back on.

So, discuss the law.
--Andy

My mom was a nursing home Activities Director and then eventually Nursing Home Administrator, so I grew up around nursing homes. I'm glad I did, because so many of my friends thought old people were weird or scary or disgusting or whatever, and I probably would have thought the same if I hadn't grown up around so many of them like that.

Now, I don't particularly care for this being the LAW. But I do think it's a good idea for young people to do this OUTSIDE OF THE LAW (no, not breaking and entering! <grin>). It's good for the old folks and it's good for the young folks too. That's also why our cadets do a lot of community service at nursing homes, as well.

[BigBallinStalin]

This is great. Compulsory visits to the elderly will ensure that the young will respect their real masters, their ancestors. These unruly kids and their riots these days are too much, and it's because they lack respect for authority, tradition, and their parents--obviously!

Onward! Toward prosperity!

[AndyDufresne]

I'm glad I did, because so many of my friends thought old people were weird or scary or disgusting or whatever, and I probably would have thought the same if I hadn't grown up around so many of them like that.

I remember having a conversation with a some friends of mine back at that time...about how many elderly people they knew, and with which they regularly interacted. The majority said only their grandparents, and very irregularly, which I think is pretty common. It is interesting though that we do tend to congregate with those of our age group, either because of personal, societal, or cultural (or other) reasons.

On the flip side, I've also been lucky enough to regularly interact with younger kids as well, and I know a fair share of people who would describe the young as "weird or scary or disgusting" as well. Ha.


--Andy

[Woodruff]

On the flip side, I've also been lucky enough to regularly interact with younger kids as well, and I know a fair share of people who would describe the young as "weird or scary or disgusting" as well. Ha.

I deal with them all the time, and that's probably WHY I would be one of them. <laughing>

[PLAYER57832]

Uh, well, first, this isn't a true law, its more like a recommendation, since the body passing it has no real legal authority.

That said, division of people is a big problem. Younger people absolutely learn from the older ones -- tangible things like history, but also things like tolerance and respect for people who are less physically able and an understanding of where we all will be someday.

But, that gets into tolerance of all types. Its growing less and less real, more something to talk about in a PC fashion, but not something to truly practice in reality.

[Woodruff]

But, that gets into tolerance of all types. Its growing less and less real, more something to talk about in a PC fashion, but not something to truly practice in reality.

I really don't understand where you get these ideas. The world really hasn't changed so drastically that people are no longer interested in respecting one another.

[PLAYER57832]

But, that gets into tolerance of all types. Its growing less and less real, more something to talk about in a PC fashion, but not something to truly practice in reality.

I really don't understand where you get these ideas. The world really hasn't changed so drastically that people are no longer interested in respecting one another.

You really believe that nothing has changed in the past 30 years?

It has on TV, politics, verbal and written rhetoric of all types. Sure many people still are, or at least try, but you see a lot more people who think that they have the right to tell other people how to live, no real obligation to truly understand others. What diversity education is in many schools is, to my mind, almost itself racist in that it tends to classify people and stereotype them rather than leading to understanding.

On the other side, there are people trying to reverse the trend, but I don't think you can seriously deny its happening.

[Woodruff]

But, that gets into tolerance of all types. Its growing less and less real, more something to talk about in a PC fashion, but not something to truly practice in reality.

I really don't understand where you get these ideas. The world really hasn't changed so drastically that people are no longer interested in respecting one another.

You really believe that nothing has changed in the past 30 years?

No, what I am really coming to believe is that you can't bother to focus long enough to read two simple English sentences.

It has on TV, politics, verbal and written rhetoric of all types. Sure many people still are, or at least try, but you see a lot more people who think that they have the right to tell other people how to live, no real obligation to truly understand others.

How can you possibly believe that stuff didn't exist as much or more thirty years ago?

What diversity education is in many schools is, to my mind, almost itself racist in that it tends to classify people and stereotype them rather than leading to understanding.

I can't speak for what you've seen, but that's definitely not how it's done in Nebraska. Perhaps California just screws it up?

On the other side, there are people trying to reverse the trend, but I don't think you can seriously deny its happening.

I absolutely contend that people are not any less understanding or tolerant today than they were 30 years ago. In fact, I would absolutely contend that they are more understanding and more tolerant today than they were 30 years ago. Unquestionably.

[waauw]

oooooh those east-asians and their respect for elders