There's a thought that just came to me out of the blue, half way through my day;
The oldest people in the world are never noticed until they die...
I mean.. think about it, now and then, we read about how the oldest in the world just died.... They lived till 101 years old or something, passed away peacefully etc etc. Isn't it a bit sad and tragic that it hits the headlines for people to notice AFTER they passed away?
You get recognition for being the oldest person alive after you're dead. I'm searching my brain for a word to try to describe this..... but can't. Is it ironic? Is it sad? Is it twisted? Maybe its all three. Why is it that dying as the oldest person live is more headline worthy than every single day they stay alive? Yes, I know the paper's and news agencies can't be having headlines everyday stating "Oldest Man / Woman in the world Still ALIVE"..... But isn't celebrating every day a person is alive more meaningful than acknowledgment in death?
I'm not saying we shouldn't report, honour and pay homage to those who have passed away. But it just seems like I hardly ever see any headlines for some sort of celebration for the oldest person in the world. How come the Mayor of the city doesn't give them a key to the city or an honorary citizenship, or free parking coupons for the rest of their life? (OK, probably not that many years left, sorry, but at least......) We say they live in their golden years.... we call them Warga Emas (Golden Citizens in Malay), and yet, we remember to celebrate them, only when their gone...
Tsk tsk tsk.....
It'd be more pleasant change if for once, we come across a piece of news that CELEBRATES THEIR LIFE WHILE THEY ARE ALIVE... rather than a sad little obituary after, by which time... it'd be too little, too late.
You get recognition for being the oldest person alive after you're dead. I'm searching my brain for a word to try to describe this..... but can't. Is it ironic? Is it sad? Is it twisted? Maybe its all three. Why is it that dying as the oldest person live is more headline worthy than every single day they stay alive? Yes, I know the paper's and news agencies can't be having headlines everyday stating "Oldest Man / Woman in the world Still ALIVE"..... But isn't celebrating every day a person is alive more meaningful than acknowledgment in death?
I'm not saying we shouldn't report, honour and pay homage to those who have passed away. But it just seems like I hardly ever see any headlines for some sort of celebration for the oldest person in the world. How come the Mayor of the city doesn't give them a key to the city or an honorary citizenship, or free parking coupons for the rest of their life? (OK, probably not that many years left, sorry, but at least......) We say they live in their golden years.... we call them Warga Emas (Golden Citizens in Malay), and yet, we remember to celebrate them, only when their gone...
Tsk tsk tsk.....
It'd be more pleasant change if for once, we come across a piece of news that CELEBRATES THEIR LIFE WHILE THEY ARE ALIVE... rather than a sad little obituary after, by which time... it'd be too little, too late.
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