Funny topic, isn’t it? I still remembered that I always thought about this topic when I was a small kid. I cried several times because I always imaged that all my relatives were becoming old and passing by. And then I was alone in the entire world. It was so sad. I am really afraid of experiencing this kind of event.
China has a very venerable culture and history. I affected deeply by this tradition. So I love small kids and respect the old. Piety is one of the most important tradition in China. Parents raise the children, and the children take care of them when they are becoming old. Although there are some persons changing their attitude nowadays. Piety still inherits generation by generation in China.
As we know, United States is the place where people have the most freedom in the world. So I am so curious about the cultural of United States. Therefore, I chose to come and study in United States. I stayed here in Mount Pleasant for a little bit while, and I found that the old persons here had so different life. Most of them live separately from their children. And I talked to some of them, they told me that they liked to live by themselves, they liked to do whatever they wanted, and they didn’t like to take care of their grandchildren. Moreover, some of them said they also felt lonely because their children lived far away from them, and the only chance for them to see their children and grandchildren were in a big and important occasional time. And some of disabilities have to stay in the center where a lot of old person who can not take care of themselves. That is quite different from my country, China. I don’t criticize what do they do here in United States because I might not familiar with the cultural. But the point I want to make is the old persons should enjoy their late years with their children and grandchildren. In my opinion, most of the old persons are looking forward to have this kinds of late years, especially in China.
We should thank for parents to give us chance to come to this world. And it is their duty to raise us up until 18 years old even more than that. Then children are obligatory to take care of them when they are becoming old. That is my opinion. So what do you think?
2 responses so far ↓
1
Steve
// Oct 23, 2007 at 7:22 pm
Your journal is very interesting! Filial piety does seem to be much stronger in Asian countries; on the other hand, I think Americans have their own “version.” Almost all parents support their children until they are 18 and beyond, and most kids help to take care of parents as parents age. However, just as kids look forward to their freedom as adults, parents often look forward to their freedom when they retire. My mother has often said that she doesn’t want to live with me when she gets old, unless she absolutely cannot take care of herself. I think many elderley people enjoy the chance to live their own lives, and feel that having to take care of grandchildren or their adult children is a burden. In addition, I think some Americans believe (as I do) that it should not necessarily be the children’s responsibility to take care of aging parents. Since my wife and I don’t have children, we are often asked, “Who will take care of you when you get old?” I respond that if I had children, I would not expect them to do it because they did not choose me as a parent.
Of course I am willing to take care of my parents as they get older, but I feel that is my choice, not my responsibility.
2
Maya
// Oct 24, 2007 at 9:59 pm
I think Asia has a stronger idea of filial piety because the values are different. Parent’s whole life is devoted to raising their children and giving them the best. So most parent’s don’t develop their own lifestyle. Even when their kids grow up, the main focus of parents’ lives is still the kids or grandkids. I think that is why the Chinese idea of filial piety is much stronger.
There is not as much focus on individual personality in China (Asia?); more emphasis is put on the group (family, society, etc.). Do you think so?
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