Time to Face the Music

Last Thursday night, my husband and I bade farewell--along with thousands of other Coloradans--to maybe my favorite band of all-time, The Eagles. It was my second time seeing them live, and I would happily see--and sing along with--them 1,000 more times, if only time (and my finances) allowed.

I first fell in love with their music about 50 years ago when they were in their 20's, and I was in my teens. Sadly, as they continue their "The Long Goodbye" farewell tour, only one original member of the group remains: Don Henley. To me, he sounds as good today as he did back then--as does the entire intergenerational group (most of whom are in their mid-70's).

In short, they've "still" got it.

That has not necessarily been the case with other groups I fell in love with back then. While their recordings have enjoyed long-term staying power, frankly, their voices have not. I say this not to be critical, but to illustrate a point:

Too often society paints generations with an extremely broad brush. All Baby Boomers are _______. Or, all Millennials are ________. But that is not the case. In fact, not only is it not the case, it is AGEIST.

It would be the same as claiming all Women are _______. Or all Latinos are _______. Or all Jews are ________. In fact, a good test to see if you're being ageist is to replace whatever age group you're talking about with another ethnic group. If it sounds sexist, racist, or any other "ist," chances are you're being ageist.

It's time for society to stop viewing its various generations as monolithic, and start seeing people--including Adults 60+--as the individuals they are. Though not everyone can be a Don Henley, Joe Walsh, or Timothy B. Schmit, there are plenty of performers who can. Which is why, when it comes to ending ageism, it's time to face the music.