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There’s an old cliché that smug
right-wingers like to fling at us: “If you’re not a liberal at
20, you have no heart — but if you’re not a conservative at 40,
you have no brain.”
Even if that’s true, there’s a third
phrase in life that should be added to this aphorism: “If
you’re not a radical at 60, you haven’t been paying
attention.”
Ours is a culture that celebrates youth — which
is not a bad thing at all, because there is a freshness and idealism in the
young that gives our society spark. Yet oldsters, too, bring something
special to the cause, for they are in a unique position to question
authority, defy the corporate order, and stand up for progressive values.
Also — let’s face it — the clock is ticking, so
it’s definitely time to break loose, make a difference . . . and have
some fun being disobedient! I was reminded of this enormous possibility for
seniors to buck the system when I attended an event in Los Angeles recently
with a group of old folks who proudly call themselves “aging
agitators.” They work through an organization called Sunset Hall, and
its members range from blue-collar retirees to people from the
entertainment world. Sunset Hall is not a place for the sedentary —
it is an activist organization. Many of its members came thorough labor
battles, challenged Joe McCarthy, marched with Martin Luther King Jr.,
protested the Vietnam War, helped found the modern women’s movement,
and pushed environmental issues to the fore. They are not about to sit back
now. Being an agitator is all about attitude — not
age. Connect with these freethinking elders at www.sunsethall.org.
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator,
columnist, and author.
This article appears in Jun 12-18, 2008.
