Alienation Solved

[shove 'em together]

These days, many people feel alone and disconnected from this world. Of course there are many groups and options to look to for peers and support, but how can these help certain segments where the entire group feels alienated. I'm talking about two ages that can be emotionally and psychologially difficult for most: 1) teenagers and 2) the elderly.

1) Few people make it through their teen years unscathed. Finding your individuality and purpose is challenging when fellow teens punish and ridicule those who stands out. Teenagers frequently respond to the resulting alienation by resorting to social disruption (crime or gangs) or personal destruction (drugs or suicide). These years are so important to our development and yet the most energetic and creative have a tough time finding an outlet or audience for their growth.

2) Growing old is mostly bad news followed by more bad news. With the exception of retirement and grandkids, things just seems to get worse every year. Your body falls apart, you friends die, and you lose the capacity and opportunity to positively affect your world. The few who are lucky enough to survive into old age are usually directed to retirement homes with little to look forward to every day. What a waste - those with the most to share can't find someone to listen.

The solution? Put the young and the elderly together.

Of course this has been tried before, but the teens involved are mostly honor students voluneering for an hour or two at a time. The stories and advice our experienced citizens have to offer does not add much to the most confident and purposeful kids.

The teens who need advice, perspective, and gentleness the most are our destructive ones. Instead, they are further alienated by being directed to detention, suspension, expulsion, juvi, bootcamps, and/or jail. What good does it do to shove all these troublemakers together? None. Our society's solution to troubled youth has to be one of the least well-thought plans (if you can call it that) in modern history. Our local leaders and politicians should be shamed for abandoning our children who need our help the most.

Luckily help is no more than a bus ride away to the closest retirement home. Politicians may not have a word of help to offer our kids, but I know some people who have more than a few pieces of advice. Some retirees lived troubled lives when they were younger and will be able to make a connection. Others may be frustrated at their inability to connect with their own grandkids, so why not offer an outlet and learning experience with somebody else's?

If our troubled teens would learn nothing else, it would be that there are problems worse than theirs, and at least they have the ability to change their direction. Our elderly would be given another chance to make a positive difference in this world, with our most volatile and precious assets.

Comment suggestions:What activities could our teens and retirees do together? or anything else.