Do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old?
The simple answer to this question is Yes.
However, the more appropriate question is why is this ethical and moral question even being asked?
In Filipino culture, respect for older adults and family is highly valued, and caring for aging parents is considered a responsibility of adult children. Taking care of parents, especially in their old age, is considered a traditional and cultural practice in the Philippines.
Do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old?
The answer requires three different perspectives:
The human being is a flawed animal with an inability for self-rule without the guidance of a higher order.
Do we even have the wisdom to contradict The 10 Commandments:
- “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” ...
- “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” ...
- “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” ...
- “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.” ...
- “Honor thy father and thy mother.” ...
- “Thou shalt not kill.” ...
- “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” ...
- “Thou shalt not steal.”
Action speaks louder than words
In the Commandments God has sent fourth a blueprint for happiness. Its guidelines nurture compassion not narcissism. Only compassion promotes intimacy in your relationship with your spouse and with your children and with your parents. Intimacy requires unconditional love–not just in the words we speak but in the actions we take. Action speaks louder than words. The more compassionate we are the more we'll think and favor on the other person's behalf. And the relationship is reciprocal. When compassion fades into narcissism– a self centered focus–we choose to abort the Commandments, the cycle of life. Disappointment ultimately grows into unhappiness followed by discontent, anger, a purposelessness hell. Self-medication then divorce.
Science:
Can science replace the higher order? Let's look at the cycle we are all born into and then ultimately die and then others take our place. There is only one absolute in this mortal life we've been gifted and that is death. But what happens in between?
Life is never greener on the other side of the fence. What God gives with one hand he will always take with the other. Everyone comes to the planet with something to learn. There are no free rides. Unfortunately the ride at each level is only temporary. There are six levels of life development that will never change:
In this account, the infant is the magic that begins the cycle of life. Then the infant grows into the school child. The child sees only themselves, unprincipled self gratification, in the world that glitters. If all adults in the family and community were stunted at this level of self absorption, it would be a recipe for disaster. Fortunately this ride only last a handful of years. And for those children that extend this ride into adulthood will not find happiness. Its perversion will lead to a very short life and usually expulsion from the family and community. Certainly they will not be a burden to the family since they will die before they reach old age. But for others, whose family members in the cycle, have done their job properly by weaning the child into concepts of trust and responsibility will grow into the lover.
From fear, to trust, then to lust. Soon the reigns of the family responsibility passes to the worker whose mission is to feed and support the family structure as the elderly before them. If this cycle is broken and the individual desires to remain the lover without commitment, forever locked in the grip of narcissism, they will suffocate on their own self love. This person has chosen to remain at the level of childhood thinking that all things pretty, especially themselves, will continue to create the glitter of childhood happiness. Except for one flaw. Happiness is just the opposite of childhood narcissism. It is the selflessness of giving and being responsible for other people, unconditionally, that defines happiness.
Do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old?
Abandoning the cycle of life will be a very lonely place. Elderly and infancy can only be loved by family. Respect is earned, not given.
3. Why is this ethical and moral question even being asked?
As of my last knowledge update, the Philippines remains one of only two countries in the world, along with the Vatican City, where divorce is not legally recognized.
Remove the moral responsibility to the Commandments of a higher being then next on the menu is abortion, divorce, euthanasia, then facelifts. And then the final assault when the almighty GOVERNMENT steps in and replaces your God in family structure.
It's interesting that there are only two countries in the Western World that do not acknowledge divorce or shall we say the sacred rite of marriage, the Philippines stands alone. Breaking the cycle of families caring for their elderly is merely a baby step of ultimately following the goose-steps of China, the United States, western Europe. Acknowledging, for all practical purposes, full birth abortion. Or let's just call it infanticide, murder. It's rather humorous in a macabre way walking the baby steps into social chaos.
The Filipino people cherish their children–infants. This ongoing practice of holding the family unit together guards against the state dictating who shall live, who shall die. Without the family there is only the state.
By all means, have the state take over your families. It seems like such an innocuous question—do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old—a small situation, seemingly harmless action or concession eventually leading to a much larger and potentially undesirable outcome: “the camel has his nose in the tent.”
Actions speak louder than words
Do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old?
From a behavioral psychologist point of view, when posed with a question that will alter a cultures foundation, the family structure, we ask ourselves a simple question
If everyone did this action would it be okay? It's a standard rule of thumb that I utilize when dealing with social behavior patterns. Would it be okay if all families abandon their elderly parents? And how will this affect the dynamics of the family, it's relationships and the responsibilities we have for one another.
Is it a positive change or a negative change?
If you can answer these questions honestly then you'll have the answer to your question:
Do you think children are obligated to take care of their parents when they are old?
This is Drb reminding you, that we are not alone.