Ageism, it’s REAL!

I’ve tried to say this on Facebook and received zero support and response. So I figured, perhaps if Madonna said it, people will listen.

Earlier today I read a disturbing comment that all old people are racists and homophobic (and should die!) As someone who will be entering my senior years in less than a decade, I find these sort of comments extremely disturbing. And of course untrue.

For decades the beauty end of ageism was shoved down a person’s throat. Botox, fillers, staying under a certain weight, do this, do that to stay young.

But now, we have to also worry about people falsely assuming we are racist and homophobic just because we’re of a certain age?! And even worse, that we should die?!

Well, let me tell you something … some of the oldest people I know are the LEAST racist and homophobic. A perfect example is when I worked at a newspaper and helped an elderly entertainment editor with her section each week. She embraced all types of people no matter what their color or sexual preference.

And this is not the exception. It’s the rule.

Old people are extremely accepting, kind, and loving. If someone is old and an asshole, that’s all it is — an old person who is an asshole. That same old asshole was most likely a young asshole at one point in his/her life.

It’s ignorant to lump all people into categories.  As I blogged last week, it’s never ever black and white. It’s always gray.

And I wish, with all my heart, that some people who are limited in their thinking will meet that one inspirational person who shows them differently. Because if you hang out with that one person, more and more will arrive in your life like magic.

Be blessed.
Be happy.

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta is the author of three books. Her fourth book “I Don’t Want to Be Like You” will be traditionally published later this year by Higher Ground. She is available for ghost writing, book editing, and motivational speaking. Contact her directly at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com 

 

Kill the Hate

I’m currently editing a book written by a black man growing up in the 1950s and 1960s. He spoke about transferring from an all black high school to a school that was 90 percent Caucasian. He was shocked by how much prejudice there was from white people against other white people.

I have experienced this growing up in the 1960s and 1970s being called a “wop” and “guinea” by white children of other nationalities and will be addressing this in my upcoming book, “I Don’t Want to Be Like You.”

There’s so much hatred in this world, especially among children, which they learn from their parents. And then they grow up, but don’t really grow up because they use every excuse possible to spew hate.

No one is exempt from hate, whether it’s race, religion (it never ceases to amaze me how all forms of spirituality are okay, but God forbid you say “God”) age-ism, class shaming, fat AND thin shaming, jealousy, homophobia, tattoo haters, political beliefs, shaming the childless, even how people eat with vegans against meat eaters, people hating each other only because of what they “HEARD” and so on and so on and so on, people have to fight — and by fight I mean relentlessly harass — with anyone who is not like they are! And it SUCKS, I have been on the receiving end myself over and over again. And talking to all types of people, most people have experienced EXTREME hatred and hurt to some degree — more than once too. For one person to tell another person, “You don’t know how it is” is so wrong.

I don’t know where I’m going with this, I’m just so fucking drained of people hating on each other. We all have more in common than not in common. Doesn’t EVERYONE want prosperity, a great career, recognition for a job well done, love, sex, good health and wonderful friends?

You don’t have to love everyone, but by turning to the gray area of at least liking or respecting, the world would be a better place to live, I truly believe that.
PEACE, OUT.