Let's Wait for the Older Generation to Die

[Tamrin]

Let's Wait for the Older Generation to Die
Before Allowing Women to Join

I'm sometimes confronted with versions of the above argument. The time is not right; our parents grew up with different values, why confront them with our new values? Wait for them to pass on before introducing changes with which they may have difficulty coping. However, history shows these "new" values were once their values: What happened? They grew old! And, guess what? We're not getting any younger! I agree, the time is not right to admit women to mainstream Freemasonry: It is long overdue and getting worse.

Prejudice a mind age problem

[Excerpt - Article by Danny Rose, ninemsn.com - Linked Above]

If you're the type of person who grimaces as grandma drops racial slurs during Christmas lunch - be warned - new research shows you could be doing the same in a few decades.

An international study, led by an Australian academic, has found the ability to be prejudiced is linked to ageing and brain functioning, and not just the times in which a person grows up.

It also showed someone who held quite tolerant views today was "prone to behaving in a more prejudiced way" in the future, she said.

[Tamrin]

I was dismayed to read the following news item which appears to corrobborate the idea of a connection between age and intolerance. In Australia Rolf is remembered as a figure who one would ordinarily expect to vigourously oppose such bigoted opinions. We may accept his apology but remain bemused at his remark.

[Scanned excerpt of article in Koori Mail, 17/Dec/08, p.12]



'God, did I say that?' Harris says sorry to Aborigines

[Excerpt - Article by Leo Shanahan, The Age, 4/Dec/08 - Linked Above]

ROLF Harris has apologised to Aboriginal leader Lowitja O'Donoghue at the opening of the new National Portrait Gallery in Canberra for comments he made about Aborigines needing to get off their "arse(s)".

- Contrite Harris apologises
- Outrage from Aborigines
- Matter fixed: Lowitja O'Donoghue

At 78, Rolf wishes he'd gritted his teeth

[Excerpt - Article by Catherine Keenan, SMH 4/Dec/08 - Linked above]

Rolf Harris yesterday apologised for saying last week that Aborigines should "get up off [their] arse" and clean up their communities.

The apology followed a promise by the indigenous leader Lowitja O'Donoghue to have a word with Harris at the opening of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. After meeting in private rooms, both parties emerged separately.

"We fixed it all up," she said afterwards. "We shook hands. And I said I would leave it to him to deal with this matter."

In ill health, and seeming somewhat discombobulated, Harris, 78, emerged later and said: "I would just like to apologise for any offence that I've caused."

[Tamrin]

Mental Abilities Peak at Age 22,
Decline After 27, Study Says

[Excerpt - Article Haley A. Lovett, Finding Dulcinea, 17 March 2009 - Linked Above]

A new study suggests that cognitive ability begins to decline in healthy adults in their 20s and 30s; “old age” may begin much earlier than previously thought.

A recent study of more than 2,000 people aged 18–60 found that on average cognitive abilities were best at age 22.

The study, performed by scientists at the Salthouse Cognitive Aging Lab at the University of Virginia, and published by Timothy Salthouse in the journal Neurobiology of Aging, has shown that cognitive abilities may decline much earlier than in our golden years.

Salthouse says that other tests have not been able to uncover this cognitive decline because the testing methods did not account for prior test experience. Common knowledge type tests tend to give middle-aged patients an advantage.

The study by the Salthouse Lab used tests much like those used to diagnose mental decline, such as visual puzzles, recollection of words and story details, and spotting patterns, the Daily Mail reports.

On tests of reasoning, speed of thought and spatial visualization, subjects began to perform worse at age 27. Other tests showed lower memory performance in the late 30s and early 40s.