The Heart of a Nation

America, as it stands today, is not adequately accommodating toward its older generation. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape—one that even younger generations often struggle to keep pace with—how can we expect older individuals, many of whom didn’t grow up with these advancements, to easily adapt?

The media often exacerbates this issue by perpetuating the idea that aging is something to be resisted or reversed, rather than embraced. Aging is frequently portrayed as a decline to be avoided, reinforcing ageism and sidelining the valuable contributions of older people. This mindset strips away dignity and overlooks the wisdom, experience, and insight that come with age.

This illustration symbolizes America tearing out its core—the people—by neglecting and marginalizing its older citizens. Just as removing the core from an object leaves it hollow and incomplete, the disregard for our aging population diminishes the richness and depth of our society. It highlights a fundamental disconnection between our values and our treatment of those who have shaped our culture and history. It’s time we challenge these notions and stop viewing our citizens as products with a limited shelf-life. Instead, we should foster a culture where aging is celebrated and older generations are seen as integral, vibrant parts of society—fully deserving of respect, inclusion, and support.