The Endless Benefits from the Elderly

In just about anywhere inhabited by people, the elderly are the glue that keeps society cohesive and bound together. They have seen the ups and downs, the twists and turns of life. It is because of this fact that the elderly are teeming with useful advice. Henry David Thoreau, however, seems oblivious to this well known ideal. Thoreau's notion that the elderly have no helpful advice to share with society goes down the drain with the fact that the elderly are more experiences, have better ethics, and are wiser than the common people. Old people are and have always been about as helpful as a flashlight in a dark room.

As people grow up and go through the trials and tribulations of life, they garner experience from their actions from just about every corner. The elderly are the pinnacle of this idea. From wars, to depression, to prosperity, our senior citizens become about as colorful from life as a rainbow. Although Thoreau accepts the theory "old deeds for old people", he fails to see that history constantly repeats itself. Wars will always happen, and good times and bad times will constantly be present. Therefore, it is necessary that the younger generation be blessed by the advice of those who have experience in such matters. Perhaps these little things could aid society and the world as a whole. Old people are like water behind a dam, ready to flow freely and enrich the environment around them.

Additionally, the older the person, the better the code of ethics. The elderly see a plethora of events in their lifetime. This exposure enables them to develop morals that are second to none. For example, would it be smarter to have a World War II veteran make the decision on a declaration of war, or a preppy teenager instead? Old people know good from bad like they know left from right. For Thoreau to say that the experiences of old people have been "so partial" is inelastic due to the fact that he has not lived long enough to truly understand those experiences to begin with. The advice of the elderly is as vital as oxygen, and not even Thoreau can cut it off.

On the other hand, not all knowledge can be attained from life experiences. Some are born with it, and others simply pick it up by themselves. Thoreau, however has not had sufficient time to acquire such wisdom, and therefore does not know how helpful the advice of the elderly really is. He knows there is more to advice than just life, and his argument shows an Achilles heel when he admits it. The advice of old people is in fact a fountain of youth that is preserved and passed on through the generations. Thoreau does not understand this simply because he never got a drink.

In conclusion, the advice old people have to offer can be as rewarding as winning the lottery. Thoreau can only oppose such an idea because he himself has yet to be graved with the knowledge of the elderly. Old people have more experience, ethics, and prudence than one can imagine. They are necessary for the preservation of both society and culture. In fact, if the elderly did not offer any advice, Thoreau would have no argument at all.