disrespect to older voters

[Millyonthefloss2]

Do any of you know the Japanese folktale "The burning of the rice fields". My mum often read it to me when I was little. Please read it if you dont know it. Other cultures respect their old people.
Our old people voted the way they did even tho there were threats made to their pension and posters up showing an old lady with an empty purse. Do you know what the measly state pension is for a single woman. Lets all show some respect.

[vic1981]

I respect those, old and young, who are worthy of respect. I would not respect someone just because of their age.

[fourmummy]

This is the beauty of the 'one person, one vote' democratic system. Everyone's vote is valid because we could never possibly even begin to legislate for difference -different ages, experiences, gender, orientations, emotions, beliefs, appearances, etc..

[Mistigri]

My father is a longstanding Eurosceptic in his 80s with strong but considered views about the EU. I absolutely respect his right to vote and his opinion that we should leave (even though my own views are different).

However, talking to my in-laws yesterday, the older people they know seem to have mostly voted from a point of ignorance in order to kick out foreigners and get the potholes repaired (I kid you not). I have zero respect for the views of these people, although I absolutely support their right to vote.

[SemiNormal]

Can't say I've heard of 'The burning of the rice fields' but I've been so disgusted by the ageism over the result of the referendum. These are people who have paid into the system their whole lives, they have contributed to shaping this county and making it what it is, they have life experience and have probably aquired much knowledge in their many years - for people to treat them the way they have is heart breaking.

[Millyonthefloss2]

Please read the burning of the rice fields easy folktale to find and it's a 5 minute read.

[SemiNormal]

Just read it Milly - it is a lovely tale.

Here is the link should anyone else want to read it.

etc.usf.edu/lit2go/134/stories-from-around-the-world/5221/the-burning-of-the-rice-fields/

[2muchcrap]

I've not read it but I'm absolutely disgusted by the comments saying they were handed everything on a plate and now they are taking more from their grandchildren etc.
My parents worked hard, much harder than I have to work. We are suppose to live in a democracy yet those who voted to Leave are demanded to explain themselves and told they are ignorant, selfish and don't care about the next generation. Bullies, those who have been involved in making it about Leave voters should be ashamed of themselves. By all means be passionate about your vote but don't have a go at someone else for being different.

[crappymummy]

right.

I've read the story- is the implication that elderly voters who voted leave are causing short term sacrifice to save the country?

Given that many have been motivated by feelings of racism, and xenophobia (and ignorantly so- I watched an interview with a Barnsley man who seemed to think that voting leave prevented Muslims from entering the country) what exactly are they saving us from?

what exactly about such ignorance and hate should I respect?

I can respect the fact that they have a vote without celebrating their choice, you know

[Millyonthefloss2]

For my very old parents the main danger of the EU currently is the rise of the far right by the way. They have seen it before.

[crappymummy]

How better to counter the rise of far right movements in the EU than with the homegrown variety guess. Marvelous

[Millyonthefloss2]

Crappy There are ignorant old people of course. And the media loves to spotlight them.

[Millyonthefloss2]

No need for the far right here now. Labour will start to listen to its constituents and win them back (I hope!).

[crappymummy]

why should I applaud their ignorance?

why should I pretend their vote was somehow for my own good?

as an immigrant, these people would see me as verminous scum, I'm sure- I doubt they had my wellbeing in mind

again, I can respect the fact that they had a choice without endorsing that choice

[zippey]

Not all older people have let their children down, but a lot have. They should be ashamed for holding such silly views.

[ThenLaterWhenItGotDark]

I doubt it was a pensioner going around with the "Polish vermin" placards.

I'd say you'd find some Little Britain-esque beer bellied oik in a nylon football shirt who lives on KFC and has never worked a day in his life to be more the demographic you're looking for crappymummy.

[mothymoth]

What Vic said.

[crappymummy]

They're all on the same team though, and the nylon shirted oik will be a pensioner one day too.

How old does he need to be before I have to stop condemning his bigotry and start applauding his selfless wisdom a la the burning of the rice fields. Is there a special cutoff age, maybe when one is in receipt of a pension?

[PumpkinPies38]

I think what I've seen is the arrogance an ignorance of young people and their total disrespect for anyone older than them. They believe "they know best" and a public figure on my Facebook said of old people " you'll be dead soon". It's disgusting. Young people (and I fall into that category) seem to have no grasp of democracy or respect and it's disgusting and embarrassing.

[fourmummy]

why should I applaud their ignorance?

You shouldn't, but this is why education, not sneering, is important. The society's job is to educate its folk and if certain unpalatable views are exhibited, a society's job is to change them (in the interests of peace and harmony). It's still one person, one vote, and it is this that should be respected. 18-24 years age group turnout was 36%. We don't our know why. Our job is to educate the younger group about the importance of voting (or not voting, as a person sees fit). The angry, disrespectful rhetoric is unhelpful.

[crappymummy]

There was plenty of information on offer during the campaign, and leave voters said it was:

Project fear
Scaremongering
And my favourite - that they didn't want to listen to experts, they were tired of experts

all of the facts were out there beforehand, it made no difference.

You cannot educate people out of racism

[lovelygirl17]

The rise of the far right is a real problem in Europe. Hitler's idea of seeking "Lebensraum" (living space) for the German people and taking back jobs from those who "came from somewhere else" for the benefit of the German people caused destruction on a massive scale. Because it made "normal, everyday" Germans very, very angry. The very old people in this country still remember that and they remember it correctly. They however see this as a specifically German disease that Britain is immune to. It isn't. Where there is poverty there is anger.

[crappymummy]

The very old people who remember Hitler personally would be in their 90s now, and I very much doubt they made up any significant number of yes or no votes simply because demographically, there aren't that many of them

The people referred to as pensioners (age 60s-80s) will have been small children during the war, if they'd even been born

It is disingenuous to pretend that they voted as they did because of their memories of the buildup to the Second World War, or the rise in fascism that predated it.

Nope, just racist and xenophobic, mostly.

Shame their parents' generation's sacrifices taught them nothing

[WidowWadman]

The far right in the UK has been emboldened by the Leave campaign, Milly -and the far right on the continent too. That's why they were all in favour of this.

[FarAwayHills]

The older people that I know voted leave all fit the same picture-
Retired
Daily Mail Reader
Comfortably Well Off
Mortgage Free
Good Final Salary Pension
Bought their home for £10 now worth almost a small fortune

So many older voters were happy to vote leave as they have nothing to loose. If their house price falls, then it's just less IHT to worry about. They are not concerned about jobs, paying the mortgage, feeding their kids. The consequences of this don't matter to them.

[chicaguapa]

I've seen a similar number of comments from the older folk who've claimed to be more knowledgeable and wise than the 18-24 age group in particular. Is there a Japanese folktale about respecting the younger generation and their hopes and needs?