David Suzuki: We have much to learn from our elders
As I approach my 75th birthday, I find myself often thinking about mortality. I’m in the last part of my life, and that’s reality. This is the time when we must fulfill our most important duty: to reflect on a lifetime and then sift through the detritus of experience, observation, and thought in order to winnow out lessons to pass on to coming generations.
The most influential elders in my life were my parents. Although they were in their 30s and 40s when I was a child, they seemed much older and wiser. They taught me lessons that have guided me and that I have tried to pass on to my children:
"Respect your elders.” They weren’t referring to themselves but to older people, who by virtue of having lived a life, deserved respect.
“You are what you do, not what you say.” With today’s barrage of information, spin, and propaganda from politicians and corporations, it’s important to look at a record of action rather than be deceived or confused by words.
“If you want everyone to like you, you will not stand for anything.” When I was in high school, I was elected president of the student body. I told my dad that I wanted everyone to like me. He told me that no matter what one stands up for, there will always be those who disagree with you.
“Whatever you do, whether it’s washing dishes, scrubbing floors, or working at a job, throw yourself into it with all your energy.” I have learned that when I do a half-hearted job, I get a half-hearted experience.
My parents lived through the Great Depression, which shaped their values and outlook. They taught me those values:
“Save some for tomorrow.” This was a recurring theme and, of course, a value held by any true conservative.
“Live within your means.” This meant that if you didn’t have the money to buy something today, you saved until you could. This notion goes against today’s easy access to credit, which encourages going into debt.
“Share, and don’t be greedy.” Implicit in this lesson was the notion that helping someone today was in your interest—to build relationships for the inevitable day when you would need someone to help you.
Perhaps most importantly, they taught me that I had to work hard to earn money to buy necessities in life, but that I mustn’t run after money as if having more than others would make me better or more important.
I’m lucky to have arrived at a time in my life when I am freed from the encumbrances of making money, seeking fame and power, and showing off. We elders have no hidden agenda and can speak the truth. One of the most influential groups in the peace movement was the Retired Admirals and Generals Against Nuclear War, warriors who had played by the rules through the military ranks, but once retired, could speak openly and honestly.
During the ’80s and ’90s when battles raged over forestry practices, one of my most formidable opponents was the CEO of a large forestry company. Arguing that dioxin production in pulp mills was minuscule and that his clear-cut logging was allowed by government, he bellowed, “My job is to make money for my shareholders. If you don’t like the way my company operates, your complaint is with the government because everything we do is within the law.” On retiring and being freed from the corporate game, he became a generous supporter of my foundation. Maybe someone should start a Retired Corporate CEOs and Presidents for the Environment.
In First Nations communities, elders remain the bedrock of society. In conversations with First Nations people, I am struck by how often they tell me, “The elders say”¦” or “I have to ask the elders”.
In today’s youth-obsessed world of rapid technological developments, we too often marginalize elders when their experience is most important.
Elders remember a world that changed more slowly, when “disposable” was not a description of products, when sharing, reusing, and recycling were simply the way we lived. Elders remember a time when family and social activities were the central focus of life, not shopping and owning stuff. Elders remind us that life can be rich and fulfilling without all the toys.
Learn more at www.davidsuzuki.org.
Comments
13 Comments
Kanari shuto
Nov 21, 2010 at 8:53pm
Dear
Dr. David Suzuki,
My name is Kanari. I'm a science and engineering major from Saga University in Japan. I read your letter with deep interest. Let me give my impression after reading your touching essay. You noted it was important to "Respect Your Elders"
Certainly, we cannot grow up without parents.
And, without seniors, how can we receive an education? After all, we learn from those who come before us; moreover, we cannot have knowledge about past circumstances of the world and global culture. Seniors have experienced many things young people have not, and we can lean from this accumulated experience.
Lastly, I felt moved by your sense of humanity.
I want to learn much from your philosophy and experiences.
Thank you for reading my message.
Sincerely,
Kanari S. (in Kyushu, Japan)
Ryuichi Miyata
Nov 22, 2010 at 12:58am
Dear Dr.Suzuki.
My name is Ryuichi Miyata. I'm a science and engineering major from Saga University. I read your letter earnestly. The title of the letter is “We have much to learn from our elders”.
Japan is crumbling in this aspect as exchange between our elderly and youth has reduced drastically. I think that part of the reason is that many young people have no clear dreams or goals. I think that young eyes do not shine.
Spiritual fulfillment cannot be found among many young Japanese people.
Human beings are born into ignorance. That's why people should learn many things from their ancestors and elders.
Thank you very much eternally.
Sincerely,
Ryuichi Miyata
Yuma Kubokawa
Nov 22, 2010 at 6:02am
Dear Dr. David Suzuki,
My name is Yuma Kubokawa.
I'm a science and engineering major from Saga University in Japan.
I would just like to say I was impressed when I read your letter.
There are two particularly points that impressed me.
First, you mentioned "Respecting your Elders."
I thought I have a grandfather, grandmother, now.
When I was child, I could treat them gently, but now I live in another place.
I could not meet them for a long time. Therefore, I wanted to send them your letter to show them my appreciation.
Second, you mentioned "You are what you do, not what you say."
Including myself, today’s youth are increasingly becoming “people who say something, but take no action”.
From your words mentioned above, I could have chance to think about myself once again.
Lastly, I want be a person who can think about the world more.
Sincerely,
Yuma.
welldoneson
Nov 22, 2010 at 6:11pm
Isn't it odd that the three comments so far are from Japanese students.
Kids, I've got a lesson for you: you can indeed learn from some elders.
David Suzuki is not one of them. His histrionics about corporate leaders shows him to be just another half-baked anti-corporate lefty crank. His continued shilling for AGW shows him to be a little senile.
VF.Gremlins
Nov 22, 2010 at 7:37pm
Dear Dr. Suzuki:
I am not Japanese, and all my grandparents have passed away. But you are the first person I ever heard talking about the environment, on the tapes that my parents had, and I want to thank you for all your work. You have been reviled more often than you have been congratulated, and you have been dismissed and ignored far more often than listened to. But I wanted you to know that I was listening and that you have left an indelible mark in my memory and on my life.
Thank you.
-C. Lempke
pwlg
Nov 23, 2010 at 3:14am
There are few Canadians that are able to bring ideas to the forefront and stimulate thought.
Through CBC's Nature of Things, Suzuki has shown us a portion of the vast non-human world that we know little or nothing about. His respect of elders went well beyond the human world...everything around us has made it possible for our survival and existence.
Thanks.
Msatake Tanaka
Nov 23, 2010 at 10:44pm
Dear Dr. Suzuki,
My name is Masatake Tanaka .
I’m a science and engineering major from Saga University in Japan.
I read your letter. Your impression is wonderful person.
I have thought that it was important to learn from our elders.
So I agree with your letter. I wanted to read your letter more.
If I have opportunity , I think that I want to read your letter.
Thank you Mr.David Suzuki.
Sincerely,
Masatake Tanaka
Konatsu Ryu
Nov 25, 2010 at 9:00pm
Hello, Dr. Suzuki.
I'm Konatsu Ryu, a student of Saga University in Japan.
I study International Culture here.
From your essay, I learned that our elders have not only
much knowledge but also rich thoughts. As you said, they
have seen that how to had changed the world or society
they live. It is valuable for us to can hear them lessons.
I think that we should be willing to have chances that
talk with them and share thoughts. We have much time to experience various things like elders. So, I will try to do
whatever I am interested in and want to become a person
who deserve respect.
Thank you for reading.
Konatsu
Mayumi Yukizaki
Nov 25, 2010 at 9:01pm
Hello, Dr.Suzuki.
My name is Mayumi Yukizaki.
I belong to the Faculty of Culture and Education, and take an International Studies of Culture Course at Saga University in Japan.
I think that we should learn from our elders more, too.
Elders have a lot of knowledge and many experiences.
Therefore, we have to respect our elders and learn from their history.
Thank you for reading.
Mayumi
Atsuko Nagata
Nov 27, 2010 at 1:18am
Dear Dr.Suzuki
I'm Atsuko Nagata. I'm majoring in culture and education at Saga University in Japan.
I'm impressed with your letter. Elders have much more experiences and knowledge than us youth. We can go right way in our life by learning from them. They might have made some misstakes, from which we can also learn.
Who are the most influential elders in my life? They are my grandmother and parents.
My grandmother liked to learn. She spent time reading books and learning with her friends. I want to keep learning like her, and to set a good example to my children and grandchildren in the future.
"Try to improve yourself anytime anywhere." My parents told me when I was worried about my future. "Do your best in order to improve yourself, whether others around you do so or not."
I have much to learn lessons from elders, and I must pass my own lessons on to next generations in addition to them.
Sincerely,
Atsuko Nagata