Inland Empire Community Newspapers • September 17, 2015 • Page A5
Words to Think About: Seniors and Society
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By G. W. Abersold Ph.D.
’ve written several articles about Pope Francis I and they have been well received. He has been well received in the U.S.A. That may change after his visit and he expresses his opinions about our culture. He has expressed strong views about our economy, climate change, his intense thoughts about the views of most Americans regarding immigration and more recently the attitude of Native Americans for his stance on the canonization of Father Juniper Serra.
Serra became famous for the missions he started and his leading many Natives to become Christians. However, he is accused of enslaving many of them and destroying the Indian culture. Obviously there is a conflict of opinions regarding Father Serra. Hopefully Pope Francis will weather the storm and many of his other social concerns will be favorably accepted in America. Margaret is a devoted Catholic. Last Christmas she gave me a Daily Devotional book containing excerpts from many of the Pope’s homilies. A favorite topic of his – and of mine – is seniors and their role in today’s culture. Recently an article appeared in a local paper that revealed that one (1) in five (5) seniors is living in poverty. They often must choose between buying necessary food or paying for their medications. Unfortunately Stella and I know a few of them. The Pope’s commentary for September 7, 2015 is titled, The Consumerist Model.
The excerpt is worth printing completely. “The elderly…are abandoned because of our selfish inability to accept their limitations, which reflect our own limitations. They are abandoned to the numerous pitfalls that must be overcome today to survive in a civilization that does not let them be active participants, have a voice, or serve as an example because the consumerist model dictates that only youth has any use and only the youth can enjoy. These elderly people are the very ones who, in society as a whole, should be a fount of wisdom of our people.” I have great respect for the Pope’s insight about the elderly. We do have limitations that they and the younger fully recognize. We are reminded of them often enough. However, I prefer to remind readers of the assets of seniors. The first asset is extremely important. It is wisdom. Most seniors have it in abundance. I contrast wisdom with knowledge. Seniors gained knowledge in their
youth and middle age. But wisdom comes with age. And with age comes experience. And with experience comes fewer mistakes being made. For any endeavor. When Thomas Edison was up in years, he still had not solved the mystery in developing the light bulb. A mush younger man kidded about it and said, “Hey, old man have you learned anything yet?” Edison’s comment was classic. “Yes, I’ve learned a thousand ways that will not work.” So it is with seniors. We know where the rocks are. Or the pot holes. Or the dangerous rapids. That is a genuine asset. A corollary to that asset is the asset of choices. Seniors have been known to make the best choices rather than floundering around. They are time savers. Seniors do not waste time. In fact, most seniors are notably early risers and early attendees. Whatever the event. Another asset about seniors that is seldom mentioned is the temperament that most seniors possess. They are easy to get along with. The
fiery temperament of youth is long gone. Seniors are aware there are very few things that happen that are worth getting upset about. Life is too short to waste time blowing your stack. To most seniors time is a valuable commodity. It is equated with diamonds or pearls. Their value is based on their scarcity. So it is with time. Their time is scarce. They usually have a strong support group. The younger people have a support that’s usually limited to their nuclear family. The support group for seniors often includes a large family group, a church support group and a senior center fellowship group and other social groups. One more asset. Howard Schultz is Chairman and CEO of Starbucks. Recently he announced that Starbucks would be hiring more seniors. Why? Because they are very dependable, reliable and creative. That is typical of many seniors. All these assets more than offset any limitations of being older. Amen. Selah. So be it.
cision after he underwent 15 operations in an attempt to save his legs. The five-year-old just wanted to get on with his life. He was fitted with prosthetic legs and along with swimming has competed at a high level in running, cycling and at ironman triathlon events. Garcia-Tolson, who just turned 27, said as a teenager he did not particularly like people staring at him and his prosthetic razor blades. For most people in the Inland Empire, Rudy was the first they saw who walked around with the Oscar Pistorius-styled running legs. "It took a while to get used to people looking at me, like they were looking at someone from outer space. I just wanted to be like other teenagers," recalled GarciaTolson. Rudy says he now mentors teenagers who are in a similar situation. "I tell them you can't control what others think. I tell them it's beautiful. We have a lot of discussions and we joke with each other. Yes. Sometimes it gets frustrating having to always explain but its made me become socially advanced at a young age." He pointed out that the biggest minority in the world is the disabled population. According to most reports, the Paralymics are the second largest athletic competition in the world after the Olympics. "The Paralympics have really exploded in popularity, although it's frustrating that not more people know about us." GarciaTolson agrees with reports about the lack of marketing his sport receives. Reporters in England say the Paralympics suffer from a lack of political will, lack of corporate funding and lack of media attention. Numerous phone calls and emails to the U.S. Paralympic Committee for information were not answered. Garcia-Tolson still names Bloomington as his hometown, although he commutes to the U.S. Olympic Training facilities in Chula Vista. He recently competed in the World Games in Glascow
and the track and field events in Toronto. In Arizona, he was the first in his class to finish an Iron Man competition. He was set to appear at a Paralympic meet in Yucaipa on Sept. 12 and among other goodwill efforts was going to greet a delegation of Paralympic swimmers from Mexico. Due to last minute conflicts, neither GarciaTolson nor the swimmers from Mexico appeared at the event. Prior to the local meet, GarciaTolson said: "My dad is from Cuernavac, Mexico. I just get back from there where I visited my grandmother for two weeks. It's important that young children
from Mexico in similar situations learn about their opportunities. It's important that I welcome them." Garcia-Tolson has been a spokesman for the Challenged Athletes Foundation in La Jolla for 18 years. He and the late Robin Williams formed Team Braveheart and together raised millions to buy adaptive sporting goods for kids. Garcia-Tolson is credited with raising more than $25 million to ensure his challenged peers get the equipment needed to compete. "The only disability is a negative attitude," says Rudy. "Life is short. You can't sit around and mope. You have to stay positive."
Rudy Garcia-Tolson setting new standards in Paralympics; becoming one of county's greats
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Photo Courtesy Challenged Athletes Foundation Three-time International Paralympic medalist Rudy Garcia-Tolson attracts a crowd of kids wherever he goes. then Rudy was a member of the By Harvey M. Kahn Bloomington High School swim team and to remain on the team udy Garcia-Tolson is quihad to juggle his time in order to etly climbing the top-10 train for international competition. list of most accomplished Rudy, a 2006 graduate of Bloomathletes from San Bernardino ington High has been on the U.S. County. Garcia-Tolson is preparElite Team roster since 2004. ing to qualify for his fourth InterCurrent U.S. Olympic Team national Paralympic Games, this hopeful Trevor Hoyt, an Alltime for the Rio 2016 Paralympic American at Cal and former CIF Games that takes place two weeks swim champion at Yucaipa High after the traditional Olympics. School, recalls competing against Garcia-Tolson excels in 200 meter Garcia-Tolson at various open swim events and in his class has meets in the region. "I remember won gold in Athens and Beijing 'Rowdy' Rudy. He kicked my butt and silver at the 2012 London at a few club meets. He had Games. He is the current holder of tremendous upper body strength," 17 American swimming records in said Hoyt. "He couldn't beat me in his class. my featured event, the breaststroke At the same time his neighbor but he gave me a run for my Derek Parra from Eisenhower money in the backstroke and High was setting world records freestyle. What a great kid." and winning a gold medal in speed Garcia-Tolson had both legs skating in the 2002 Winter amputated due to complications at Olympics, Rudy was training for birth. He helped his parents the 2004 Athens Paralympics. By Richard and Sandra make that de-