Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you're aboard, there's nothing you can do." - Golda Meir

Our TAKE this week is on old age and its implications and consequences. Those watching CNN, Fox News and the BBC will know why the subject is topical. Watching the debate between U.S.A. President Joe Biden and former President Donald John Trump were painful for the president’s supporters and no doubt a joy for his rival’s followers.

Biden’s too old, his dreadful performance in the debate is proof, Trump’s people said.

The above comment by the late former prime minister of Israel provides a possible answer to President Biden’s difficulties. At his age, 80 plus, he’s buffeted by the old age storm and there’s nothing he can do about it.

As we all know age comes slowly but surely for all of us. And people deal with it in different ways; many accept it as inevitable but many fear it.

Fear of aging is normal, the experts say, but this fear is unfounded, they say also, as many modern seniors carry on and enjoy full and active lives. Some in their own homes and others in old people’s homes.

When the Roman Catholic Church in Samoa started Mapuifagalele, the old people’s home, I asked the head of the Catholic Church in Samoa at the time, His Eminence Cardinal Pio Taofinu’u, what the development meant: were Samoan children no longer looking after their old parents? Was it, not a Samoan tradition that children honoured their elders?

His Eminence said that many, many Samoan young people were and are looking after their parents at their own homes, and, as far as he knew, the old tradition of faaaloalo (respect) to the elders was still paid to the elders and parents.

However, he said, it was a fact that there were old people without anyone looking after them. Some were abandoned by their children and some who had no children at all. The number of those people has increased, I’m told,.

I’m also told that at the other end of the age spectrum, there are many children who have been abused and abandoned and the Campus of Hope at Si’usega is having a hard time accommodating, the young refugees.

As for President Biden’s aging problems and declining capacities, why, we may ask, should it bother us?

It bothers us because if President Biden loses, then the democratic world will have to deal with Donald Trump, a liar and a felon. A proven enemy of democracy.

President Biden says democracy is on the line and he hopes to defend it. He also hopes to finish what he started for the American people.

May he succeed. And may our old people enjoy the rest of their lives in happiness and peace.

Manuia le aso Sa.