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A U G U S T 2 0 1 2 — H O WA R D C O U N T Y B E A C O N
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Self-interest redefined Supposedly, we human beings are pro- because she couldn’t let herself watch what grammed for self-preservation. The prob- was happening and not attempt to stop it. lem is, we don’t always know Just as the grandmother has what is really in our own best chosen to interrupt her generinterest. ally peaceful retirement to For example, sometimes tackle one of the most difficult being self-less is a better way challenges there is, so the to ensure our own future granddaughter has taken the than being self-ish. painful step of leaving her parI imagine we’ve all had exents, boyfriend and school periences that helped teach friends behind to start a new us this counterintuitive truth, life halfway across the country. but I’ve also read several artiIn some sense, this situacles lately that reinforced this FROM THE tion blurs the line between conclusion for me, and I’d PUBLISHER selfish and selfless, for while like to share them with you. By Stuart P. Rosenthal each woman is denying herOne of them is the column self the easier choice — to Bob Levey wrote for us this month, which continue living as they have been — they appears in this issue on page 28. He writes are both also acting in their self interest to of a friend of his who has taken into her some degree. They want to preserve their home one of her granddaughters (her son’s own life or that of a close family member. 16-year-old daughter) because the girl’s parA second, somewhat different, example ents are in and out of jail and often stoned, of this lesson can be found in the story of and she is showing signs of following in Hattie Washington, a school administrator their footsteps. with a big heart, which starts on page 8. I The grandmother could see how her won’t be spoiling the surprise too much if I granddaughter’s future was being compro- tell you that one day, she brought home mised by her environment, and intervened with her an otherwise homeless young
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The Beacon is a monthly newspaper dedicated to inform, serve, and entertain the citizens of Howard County, and is privately owned. Other editions serve Greater Baltimore, Greater Washington, and the Coachella Valley in California. Subscriptions are available via third-class mail ($12), prepaid with order. Maryland residents add 6 percent for sales tax. Send subscription order to the office listed below. Publication of advertising contained herein does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Signed columns represent the opinions of the writers, and not necessarily the opinion of the publisher. • Publisher/Editor ....................Stuart P. Rosenthal • Associate Publisher..............Judith K. Rosenthal • Vice President, Operations........Gordon Hasenei • Director of Sales ................................Alan Spiegel • Assistant Operations Manager ..........Roger King • Managing Editor............................Barbara Ruben • Graphic Designer ..............................Kyle Gregory • Advertising Representatives ........Doug Hallock, ................................................ Steve Levin, Jill Joseph • Intern ............................................Jacob Schaperow
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student who had ended up at her office carrying all his worldly possessions in a garbage bag. Now I can understand taking home a needy child for a night. But that child spent the rest of his childhood and adolescence with her (she adopted him). And during that first year, Washington added another six foster boys to her household. Today, she operates three group homes for such lads, helping them find self-confidence and dignity after childhoods of neglect, abuse and worse. A number of them have made it to and through college, and credit Washington with changing their life’s trajectory from a downward spiral to one with honor and potential. Yet Washington says she thanks them for giving her a greater sense of purpose in life and for allowing her to return a similar favor she received as a young child from one of her teachers. She also says she feels she is helping herself, because these boys will be among those “who are going to be taking care of me when I’m a senior citizen.” Both of these stories show older women who have gone well out of their way to see that troubled youth turn out psychologically sound and prepared to assume the responsibilities of adulthood. They have done so because they see that kind of transformation ultimately to be in their own best interest as seniors and as citizens. I find this so striking because of a recent, powerful essay written by William H. Frey, a well-known Brookings Institution demographer, appearing in the June 10 issue of the Washington Post. Frey reported that surveys indicate many older adults and baby boomers see
the growing immigrant population as a threat. They also tend to look less favorably on government programs (other than Social Security) than they did when younger. He goes so far as to say boomers show “more than a little antipathy toward today’s diverse, younger Americans.” Yet, he also points out, “it is this diverse youth population that the largely white baby boomers will rely upon in their retirement years to keep paying into Social Security and Medicare.” Given the recent demographic trends of a declining under-18 population and the retirement of the boomer generation, there won’t be enough adults in the workforce to keep Social Security afloat without a large influx of immigrants, Frey said. Without investments to help minority children gain a quality education and practical work skills, he asserts, they will not be able to fill the jobs our society needs them to do. The result will be economic stagnation and an inability to retain social programs for seniors as well. The studies Frey references seem to characterize older adults and baby boomers as so focused on their selfish needs that they can’t understand how the younger and older generations are interdependent. In stark contrast, our stor y on Hattie Washington and our Bob Levey column this month independently (and without any premeditation on our part) illustrate a strong selfless streak in older adults who care deeply about the young and their futures.
Readers are encouraged to share their opinion on any matter addressed in the Beacon as well as on political and social issues of the day. Mail your letter to the editor to The Beacon, P.O. Box 2227, Silver Spring, MD 20915, or email to barbara@thebeaconnewspapers.com. Please include your name, address and telephone number for verification. BEACON BITS
Aug. 11
TEA FOR TWO (OR MORE)
Share a delicious afternoon tea with your grandchild or that special little one in your life on Saturday, Aug. 11 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Historic Oakland Manor, 5430 Vantage Point Rd., Columbia. The cost is $25 per twosome and $9 for each additional guest. The event is open to children ages 5 through 10; youngsters must be accompanied by an adult. For the required advance registration, call (410) 730-4801. For additional information, visit http://towncenter.columbiavillages.org.
Aug. 7
SENIOR DAY AT COUNTY FAIR
Information, music and bingo are on tap at the Howard County Fair’s Senior Day celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Activities Building at the Howard County Fairgrounds, 2210 Fairground Rd., West Friendship. Free for those 62 and over.
Aug. 28
BLOCK PARTY FOR SUMMER’S END
Bain Center celebrates the end of summer on Tuesday, Aug. 28 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a block party featuring the Golden Gals & Guys and the Theatre Club along with favorite cookout treats at the Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia. For more information, call (410) 313-7213.