Walter Conrad
Period 3 - AP Language and Composition
Link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/opinion/sunday/the-liberation-of-growing-old.html

Article:  The Liberation of Growing Old by Anne Karpf
Date Published:  January 3, 2015

What is the editorial's central claim?

The editorial's central claim seems to be that the growing "ageism" in America needs to stop.  The author comments on the fact that old people in contemporary society are mostly seen only as a drain on resources or a looming problem despite the fact that old people have real value and experience. Overall, the claim is that Americans should become more accepting and welcoming of age, an inevitable part of every person's life.


What is a significant piece of evidence used to support the argument?

The author uses multiple pieces of evidence to support the argument.  First of all, she tells a little about her own life as a 64-year-old woman.  This fact lends credibility to her claim because she has experienced what she is writing about firsthand.  The author also references certain actions that are taking place in the US which seek to include old people and break the barrier between young and old; for example, creative city spaces in Portland, Oregon are designed to be more inclusive for old people, and "intergenerational charter schools" in Cleveland, Ohio are helping to allow young people and old people to maintain closer contact.  Her use of evidence supports her claim that old people have something to offer and that ageism is unnecessary and silly.


What is your opinion of the claim?

In my opinion, the claim is accurate.  For some reason, in this society old people are the subjects of countless demeaning stereotypes.  Ageism is very silly and very counterproductive. Americans seem to be afraid of old people rather than embracing the fact that they will one day be old too.  I also definitely see the barrier that is forming between young and old people.  I barely ever see anyone "old" unless my grandparents come to visit.  I think that old people definitely have something to offer.  After all, they have lived a long life already and probably have a great deal of knowledge and many experiences to share.  That said, I do wonder about the effects that a rapidly growing elderly population may pose on a society such as America.  The cost of supporting so many people has the potential to be great.  However, that is certainly not the fault of old people themselves; it's just natural.  We all age.  We all contribute to the problem.


Does anyone look forward to growing old?