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Rope Cut: The Dilemma of Old Age and Social Rifts Created by a Scythe
"What are you doing? You're breaking the law by cutting my rope! The desperate cries of the female workers pierced the tranquility of the community like sharp knives, and also pierced the nerves of each of us. The incident of an old lady in Hefei, Anhui Province, wielding a sickle to cut the safety rope of a female worker in the construction of the exterior wall on the 12th floor, is far more than a simple criminal case, it is more like a mirror, reflecting the plight faced by the elderly, the tear caused by the rapid development of society, and the increasingly thin understanding and respect between people.
1. Behind the Scythe of Anger: The Neglected Dilemma of Old Age
The husbands of the old men argued that his wife cut the rope because the construction workers had soiled their windows. Behind this seemingly absurd reason, how many unspeakable grievances and helplessness of the elderly are hidden? Let's try to empathize: an elderly man who may be frail and ill and has limited mobility has endured the noise, dust, and even dirty windows of construction for a long time, and has been holding grudges for a long time, and finally acts in an extreme way under impulse.
This is not to excuse the old man's behavior, but to try to understand the lonely, helpless heart behind the scythe of anger. According to the National Health Commission, by the end of 2021, the number of elderly people aged 60 and above in mainland China reached 267 million, accounting for 18.9% of the total population. [1] How many of the huge elderly people are trapped in the trivialities of life and spiritual silos like this old woman?
Low Social Engagement:
After retirement, many elderly people lose their social roles and social circles, and their lives become monotonous and boring, and they are prone to feelings of loneliness and loss.
Physical and mental health issues:
As they age, the elderly are more likely to suffer from physical diseases and psychological problems, such as chronic diseases, depression, anxiety disorders, etc., which are not timely and effectively intervened, and can easily lead to emotional out-of-control.
Intergenerational Communication Barriers:
The fast-paced modern life makes the communication between the young and the old less and less, lacks understanding and tolerance, and is prone to friction and contradictions.
As described in the book "Empty Nest: Chinese Elderly Care", many elderly people live in a state of "spiritual empty nest", and it is difficult to feel true love and understanding even when their children are around. [2] This kind of spiritual emptiness is the root cause of the emotional loss of control in the elderly.
2. The bitterness of working at height: the dignity of life that is ignored
The construction workers hanging on the exterior walls of high-rise buildings are contributing to the construction of the city with their lives. They face the risk of falling from a height every day, endure the hardships of wind and sun, but are often overlooked.
Just imagine, when the female worker found that the safety rope was cut, how frightened and desperate she should be! She may think of her elderly parents, her young children, the dangers and hardships she had to endure in order to make ends meet.
This severed rope is not only the lifeline of female workers, but also the dignity line of low-level workers. It reminds us that in the pursuit of economic development, we cannot ignore those workers who have made silent contributions, and we must not ignore their lives and basic rights and interests.
According to the International Labour Organization, the construction industry is one of the most dangerous industries in the world, with a large number of construction workers dying or being disabled due to work-related accidents every year. [3] Ensuring the safety of workers working at height is not only the responsibility of enterprises, but also the responsibility of the whole society.
3. The warning of the rope cutting incident: bridging social rifts and rebuilding interpersonal trust
The rope cutting incident is not an isolated case. In recent years, similar incidents of "bullying by the elderly" have been common, such as "the old man slaps the young man on the bus", "the old man pushes the pregnant woman in the supermarket" and so on. Behind these events, we reflect the problems brought about by the rapid development of society:
Weak awareness of the rule of law:
Some elderly people lack basic legal knowledge, do not know how to respect the rights and interests of others, and are prone to do things that violate laws and disciplines.
Moral Slippage:
Changes in social climate have led to a weak sense of morality and a lack of compassion and empathy for others.
Inadequate social support system:
The mechanism for protecting the rights and interests of the elderly is not perfect, and there is a lack of effective legal aid and psychological counseling services.
Solving these problems requires the concerted efforts of the whole society:
Strengthen education on the rule of law:
Through various forms, legal knowledge is disseminated and the awareness of the rule of law and the concept of law-abiding among the elderly are enhanced.
Improve the social security system:
Establish and improve mechanisms for protecting the rights and interests of the elderly, and provide more complete pension services and social support.
Promote intergenerational communication:
Encourage more communication and exchanges between young and old people to promote understanding and tolerance.
Focus on the mental health of the elderly:
Strengthen mental health services for the elderly, and promptly channel and resolve the negative emotions of the elderly.
Fourth, the future outlook: to build a harmonious society, to protect every life
The rope cutting incident is a wake-up call for us, reminding us to pay attention to the elderly, the bottom of society, and the relationship between people. To build a harmonious society, each of us needs to start from ourselves, starting from bit by bit:
Respect for every life:
Regardless of age, occupation, or identity, every life deserves to be respected and cherished.
Understanding and Inclusion of Others:
Learn to empathize, understand the situation and feelings of others, and treat others' mistakes with a tolerant attitude.
Promote positive social energy:
Start from yourself, transmit positive energy, and create a positive, harmonious and friendly social atmosphere.
We believe that through the joint efforts of the whole society, we will be able to bridge social rifts, rebuild interpersonal trust, and make every life respected and cared for, making our society more harmonious and beautiful.
Fifth, from "cutting the rope" to "connecting the rope", rebuild the bridge of social trust
From "cutting the rope" to "connecting the rope", this is not only a literal change, but also a re-examination of our social responsibility and the brilliance of human nature. We hope that there will be no more tragedies like this in the future, and that they will be replaced by understanding, respect and love between people. How do you think we can rebuild the bridge of social trust from "cutting the rope" to "connecting the rope"?
[1] Source: official website of the National Health Commission
[2] Source: Empty Nest: Chinese-style Pension, Author: Yi Dan, Publisher: China Social Sciences Press
[3] Source: International Labour Organization (ILO) website