Greetings world,
In my last post I talked about my experience at the Rush concert, and how the band and its followers have created a whole culture around their music. If you are a part of that culture, you learn a special language, terminology, symbols, and more. If you are unfamiliar with this culture, however, you might feel excluded in certain situations, even if the Rush fans had no negative intent.
In today's post I will address a different type of exclusion in the United States - that of age.
I have been seeing Rush play since I was eighteen years old. The Canadian rock group formed in 1968, and have had the same lineup since 1974: Bassist and vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer Neil Peart.
Over the years Rush has gone through a tapestry of musical phases, but their musicianship has never wavered. They practice eight hours a day for tours and their shows sell out. Most of their albums have gone platinum or multi-platinum.
Yet in spite of all these accomplishments and their legion of awards, whenever I mention that I will be seeing them play, I get similar responses from people:
"Rush?? Are those guys still around? Wow, they are like the dinosaurs of rock."
"Rush? Man, those guys must be ancient by now! They probably use walkers to get on stage!"
Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee are only 59 years old.
I constantly come to the defense of my favorite band by letting people know that their musicianship is better than ever, that they are still writing fresh, innovative songs, and that they kick the butts of most musicians half their age.
But underlying these arguments is a fundamental cultural tension - the obsession with youth in America. One could hardly say that 59 is "old", and yet those assumptions about Rush linger and hover like hummingbirds over sugar water.
Historically it makes some sense why the U.S. is so youth-obsessed. Think of the migration to the "New World" and how a new nation was formed. Everything established (European hierarchy, the class system) was considered bad, and everything new was good.
I believe, however, that we must find a way to reconcile our history with an attitude of inclusion, otherwise the vital skills and wisdom from our elders, and our youth will be lost to us.
Since I turned 40 I have begun to notice the exclusion of age myself. I can't count how many professional associations are for 40 and under, as if what I have to offer disappears the day I turn 41. We have awards like Top 40 Under 40, and programs for applicants between 25 and 40. Suddenly I find myself out of the running for a host of professional opportunities, even though my skill set is broader and more solid than ever, and my experience over the last ten years has made me a better speaker, interculturalist, and businessperson.
When I spent the summer in India I found the opposite to be true. A colleague of mine was looking for an employee and tossed aside many candidates because they were too young. Yes, this is another form of exclusion. So what do we do?
Can we create a culture where all ages are respected?
I believe we can, but it will require a heightened awareness of our assumptions. We must develop a consciousness of our own biases, so that when we encounter those biases we can hit the pause button.
After pausing, we can ask ourselves questions like...
- Am I excluding this person based on their age (in either direction)?
- Is that exclusion helping me meet my objective?
- How could I reframe my perception of this person to see them at their highest and best?
- What does this person have to offer, regardless of their age?
- What generational differences might impact our working together? How do I want to address those differences proactively?
- What are some models of age from other cultures or societies I can look to for a different perspective?
- How is my own culture affecting the way I see this person?
I hope you have the opportunity to see Rush play live one day. Not only will they knock your socks off, but you will have the chance to see all generations, from young children to grandparents enjoying the universal language of rock!
Until next time...