this chip on my shoulder started 40 years ago when my mother was 69 she was
years ago when my mother was 69 she was
years ago when my mother was 69 she was assaulted in her home beaten unconscious
assaulted in her home beaten unconscious
assaulted in her home beaten unconscious raped and left for dead I found out the
raped and left for dead I found out the
raped and left for dead I found out the next day and hopped the red-eye and
next day and hopped the red-eye and
next day and hopped the red-eye and arrived at the hospital where she was
arrived at the hospital where she was
arrived at the hospital where she was the next morning at dawn she was still
the next morning at dawn she was still
the next morning at dawn she was still on the gurney in the emergency room
on the gurney in the emergency room
on the gurney in the emergency room nearly three days after the assault they
nearly three days after the assault they
nearly three days after the assault they hadn’t decided whether to admit her
hadn’t decided whether to admit her
hadn’t decided whether to admit her probably thought she was too old to
probably thought she was too old to
probably thought she was too old to survive and just waited for her to die
survive and just waited for her to die
survive and just waited for her to die anyhow I got her admitted and six long
anyhow I got her admitted and six long
anyhow I got her admitted and six long weeks in the trauma ward she was
weeks in the trauma ward she was
weeks in the trauma ward she was discharged for a convalescence in spite
discharged for a convalescence in spite
discharged for a convalescence in spite of that horrendous event she gained
of that horrendous event she gained
of that horrendous event she gained enough mobility to work part-time in the
enough mobility to work part-time in the
enough mobility to work part-time in the local library why am I telling you all
local library why am I telling you all
local library why am I telling you all this because she was an inspiration she
this because she was an inspiration she
this because she was an inspiration she had earned her bachelor’s degree at the
had earned her bachelor’s degree at the
had earned her bachelor’s degree at the age of 60 and inspired by that I had
age of 60 and inspired by that I had
age of 60 and inspired by that I had enrolled in college before she got hurt
enrolled in college before she got hurt
enrolled in college before she got hurt and I was able to graduate and then went
and I was able to graduate and then went
and I was able to graduate and then went on to earn a master’s degree and mama
on to earn a master’s degree and mama
on to earn a master’s degree and mama got out of her wheelchair and came to my
got out of her wheelchair and came to my
got out of her wheelchair and came to my graduation yeah that was major I know
graduation yeah that was major I know
graduation yeah that was major I know it’s hard going back to school in
it’s hard going back to school in
it’s hard going back to school in midlife but it’s really worth it it
midlife but it’s really worth it it
midlife but it’s really worth it it really is I worked hard at it and I
really is I worked hard at it and I
really is I worked hard at it and I achieved a better job as a result so so
achieved a better job as a result so so
achieved a better job as a result so so as she as Genevieve said I’m now
as she as Genevieve said I’m now
as she as Genevieve said I’m now enrolled at UNM in a doctoral program
enrolled at UNM in a doctoral program
enrolled at UNM in a doctoral program and my dissertation is about how older
and my dissertation is about how older
and my dissertation is about how older students are perceived on
students are perceived on
students are perceived on campus and how older students adapt to
campus and how older students adapt to
campus and how older students adapt to the youth oriented culture on campus
the youth oriented culture on campus
the youth oriented culture on campus after five years of studying
after five years of studying
after five years of studying organizational culture I’m going to be
organizational culture I’m going to be
organizational culture I’m going to be able to put that much of it to use let
able to put that much of it to use let
able to put that much of it to use let me ask you this why do the professor’s
me ask you this why do the professor’s
me ask you this why do the professor’s when they lecture about the generations
when they lecture about the generations
when they lecture about the generations in our society and they talk about the
in our society and they talk about the
in our society and they talk about the Millennials Gen Y echo kids Gen X
Millennials Gen Y echo kids Gen X
Millennials Gen Y echo kids Gen X boomers and then they stopped and I say
boomers and then they stopped and I say
boomers and then they stopped and I say you who how about those of us who beat
you who how about those of us who beat
you who how about those of us who beat the rush we’re called the silent
the rush we’re called the silent
the rush we’re called the silent generation where the smallest generation
generation where the smallest generation
generation where the smallest generation in our society but it’s as if we were
in our society but it’s as if we were
in our society but it’s as if we were all dead and gone already well I’m
all dead and gone already well I’m
all dead and gone already well I’m telling you we’re not we were born
telling you we’re not we were born
telling you we’re not we were born during the Great Depression we remember
during the Great Depression we remember
during the Great Depression we remember the first world of the sets out the
the first world of the sets out the
the first world of the sets out the first excuse me the Second World War I
first excuse me the Second World War I
first excuse me the Second World War I grew up listening to my father’s stories
grew up listening to my father’s stories
grew up listening to my father’s stories about his service in the First World War
about his service in the First World War
about his service in the First World War but we do remember the Second World War
but we do remember the Second World War
but we do remember the Second World War my mother used to say sister finish your
my mother used to say sister finish your
my mother used to say sister finish your plate think of all the starving children
plate think of all the starving children
plate think of all the starving children in Europe I hate to say that what’s
in Europe I hate to say that what’s
in Europe I hate to say that what’s happening in Syria and Africa today is
happening in Syria and Africa today is
happening in Syria and Africa today is not the first time that refugees were
not the first time that refugees were
not the first time that refugees were marching miles and starving we remember
marching miles and starving we remember
marching miles and starving we remember that we we went through the polio
that we we went through the polio
that we we went through the polio epidemic and got the first vaccines the
epidemic and got the first vaccines the
epidemic and got the first vaccines the experimental vaccines for it some of our
experimental vaccines for it some of our
experimental vaccines for it some of our classmates lost brothers and uncles in
classmates lost brothers and uncles in
classmates lost brothers and uncles in the Forgotten War talk about being
the Forgotten War talk about being
the Forgotten War talk about being invisible the war in Korea we integrated
invisible the war in Korea we integrated
invisible the war in Korea we integrated the schools and the buses and and the
the schools and the buses and and the
the schools and the buses and and the lunch counters in the train stations
lunch counters in the train stations
lunch counters in the train stations there’s a wonderful painting in the
there’s a wonderful painting in the
there’s a wonderful painting in the museum over here about a train station
museum over here about a train station
museum over here about a train station with the sign that said for colored and
with the sign that said for colored and
with the sign that said for colored and us white kids would go sit in the
us white kids would go sit in the
us white kids would go sit in the colored section
colored section
colored section raised Cain we we did we did we
raised Cain we we did we did we
raised Cain we we did we did we integrated we barely participated in
integrated we barely participated in
integrated we barely participated in those integration efforts and I’m going
those integration efforts and I’m going
those integration efforts and I’m going to degress from a script just a moment
to degress from a script just a moment
to degress from a script just a moment to share this with you my mother took me
to share this with you my mother took me
to share this with you my mother took me out of school one day in high school to
out of school one day in high school to
out of school one day in high school to go to federal court and observe when
go to federal court and observe when
go to federal court and observe when Thurgood Marshall represented the
Thurgood Marshall represented the
Thurgood Marshall represented the n-double-a-cp against the Dallas
n-double-a-cp against the Dallas
n-double-a-cp against the Dallas Independent School District yes
testified brilliantly and lost and 10
testified brilliantly and lost and 10 years 20 10 or 15 years later the
years 20 10 or 15 years later the
years 20 10 or 15 years later the superintendent of my school principal of
superintendent of my school principal of
superintendent of my school principal of my school had had made me serve a
my school had had made me serve a
my school had had made me serve a detention for an unexcused absence and
detention for an unexcused absence and
detention for an unexcused absence and my social studies teacher had given me
my social studies teacher had given me
my social studies teacher had given me extra credit for a paper I wrote in the
extra credit for a paper I wrote in the
extra credit for a paper I wrote in the detention hall and she was all right and
detention hall and she was all right and
detention hall and she was all right and then and then the principal got promoted
then and then the principal got promoted
then and then the principal got promoted to the district’s administration and was
to the district’s administration and was
to the district’s administration and was put in charge of integrating the schools
put in charge of integrating the schools
put in charge of integrating the schools 15 years later so that’s i just added
15 years later so that’s i just added
15 years later so that’s i just added that is because it’s such an important
that is because it’s such an important
that is because it’s such an important memory anyhow where was I so so we the
memory anyhow where was I so so we the
memory anyhow where was I so so we the problems in with refugees and starvation
problems in with refugees and starvation
problems in with refugees and starvation that was not new and neither is a
that was not new and neither is a
that was not new and neither is a recycling as we know it today but back
recycling as we know it today but back
recycling as we know it today but back then we called it salvaged for the war
then we called it salvaged for the war
then we called it salvaged for the war effort we don’t do that anymore do we
effort we don’t do that anymore do we
effort we don’t do that anymore do we and and there was something else we do a
and and there was something else we do a
and and there was something else we do a locally grown food today was called
locally grown food today was called
locally grown food today was called Victory Garden and there I am first in
Victory Garden and there I am first in
Victory Garden and there I am first in the country and then in the city in our
the country and then in the city in our
the country and then in the city in our Victory Garden I was kind of cute then
Victory Garden I was kind of cute then
Victory Garden I was kind of cute then one night
so we we integrated all those those
so we we integrated all those those venues and and and we’re still
venues and and and we’re still
venues and and and we’re still contributing members of society listen
contributing members of society listen
contributing members of society listen to what we remember the next time you
to what we remember the next time you
to what we remember the next time you need advice seek advice seek us yeah
need advice seek advice seek us yeah
need advice seek advice seek us yeah we’re not done yet but we are ignored
we’re not done yet but we are ignored
we’re not done yet but we are ignored the wonderful singers referred to that
the wonderful singers referred to that
the wonderful singers referred to that is invisible older people on campus are
is invisible older people on campus are
is invisible older people on campus are invisible we’re in we seem to be assumed
invisible we’re in we seem to be assumed
invisible we’re in we seem to be assumed to be demented and frail and useless and
to be demented and frail and useless and
to be demented and frail and useless and people seem to assume that we’re no
people seem to assume that we’re no
people seem to assume that we’re no longer contributing or competent even
longer contributing or competent even
longer contributing or competent even and they’re astonished when we aren’t
and they’re astonished when we aren’t
and they’re astonished when we aren’t what they assumed their astonishment
what they assumed their astonishment
what they assumed their astonishment based on their false assumptions is
based on their false assumptions is
based on their false assumptions is insulting why shouldn’t Kathryn buyers
insulting why shouldn’t Kathryn buyers
insulting why shouldn’t Kathryn buyers have finished the 2004 boston marathon
have finished the 2004 boston marathon
have finished the 2004 boston marathon at age 81 why shouldn’t root Ruth Bader
at age 81 why shouldn’t root Ruth Bader
at age 81 why shouldn’t root Ruth Bader Ginsburg sit on the US Supreme Court at
Ginsburg sit on the US Supreme Court at
Ginsburg sit on the US Supreme Court at 82
why shouldn’t I at age 76 embark on a
why shouldn’t I at age 76 embark on a doctorate degree and when people ask
doctorate degree and when people ask
doctorate degree and when people ask what do you want with another degree at
what do you want with another degree at
what do you want with another degree at your age I want a job that’s what I want
your age I want a job that’s what I want
your age I want a job that’s what I want [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] they’ll say my you don’t look that old
they’ll say my you don’t look that old
they’ll say my you don’t look that old [Music]
[Music]
[Music] well I’m not that old there’s the
well I’m not that old there’s the
well I’m not that old there’s the screensaver on my laptop I’m sweet 16
screensaver on my laptop I’m sweet 16
screensaver on my laptop I’m sweet 16 with 60 years experience you can see
with 60 years experience you can see
with 60 years experience you can see that real laptop after a while in the
that real laptop after a while in the
that real laptop after a while in the audience participation um that’s my
audience participation um that’s my
audience participation um that’s my that’s my brain it goes everywhere
that’s my brain it goes everywhere
that’s my brain it goes everywhere usually in a backpack it’s a great tool
usually in a backpack it’s a great tool
usually in a backpack it’s a great tool here’s another tool well here’s supposed
here’s another tool well here’s supposed
here’s another tool well here’s supposed to be another tool I built my own
to be another tool I built my own
to be another tool I built my own Victory Garden in my own backyard last
Victory Garden in my own backyard last
Victory Garden in my own backyard last winter have you ever tried to dig in our
winter have you ever tried to dig in our
winter have you ever tried to dig in our high desert caliche it’s not for wimps
high desert caliche it’s not for wimps
high desert caliche it’s not for wimps it takes a tool like this it’s awful to
it takes a tool like this it’s awful to
it takes a tool like this it’s awful to be considered inferior at some
be considered inferior at some
be considered inferior at some mysterious threshold that nobody agrees
mysterious threshold that nobody agrees
mysterious threshold that nobody agrees on anyway the EEO Commission says 40 ARP
on anyway the EEO Commission says 40 ARP
on anyway the EEO Commission says 40 ARP says 50 the Census Bureau says 65 kids
says 50 the Census Bureau says 65 kids
says 50 the Census Bureau says 65 kids say it’s anybody older than mom
say it’s anybody older than mom
say it’s anybody older than mom what do you think it is I think it’s
what do you think it is I think it’s
what do you think it is I think it’s when the individual says it is maybe
when the individual says it is maybe
when the individual says it is maybe when mobility and agility begin to
when mobility and agility begin to
when mobility and agility begin to decline which for some it never does i
decline which for some it never does i
decline which for some it never does i mean–the hadn’t tried to kill my mother
mean–the hadn’t tried to kill my mother
mean–the hadn’t tried to kill my mother twice she’d still be going what does
twice she’d still be going what does
twice she’d still be going what does elderly mean in some societies an elder
elderly mean in some societies an elder
elderly mean in some societies an elder is a person in authority with some some
is a person in authority with some some
is a person in authority with some some stature in the community treated with
stature in the community treated with
stature in the community treated with respect but not here mama was not
respect but not here mama was not
respect but not here mama was not elderly at 69 I’m not elderly at 70
elderly at 69 I’m not elderly at 70
elderly at 69 I’m not elderly at 70 whatever I am 77 I just had a birthday
whatever I am 77 I just had a birthday
whatever I am 77 I just had a birthday last week so I don’t know how old I am
last week so I don’t know how old I am
last week so I don’t know how old I am I’m sweet 16 with a bunch of years you
I’m sweet 16 with a bunch of years you
I’m sweet 16 with a bunch of years you and I working together could help those
and I working together could help those
and I working together could help those astonished people overcome their biases
astonished people overcome their biases
astonished people overcome their biases and assumptions let’s stop the
and assumptions let’s stop the
and assumptions let’s stop the stereotypes of this spectacular
stereotypes of this spectacular
stereotypes of this spectacular generation participate with us in the
generation participate with us in the
generation participate with us in the adventure of long years so don’t you
adventure of long years so don’t you
adventure of long years so don’t you think it’s time to get this chip off my
think it’s time to get this chip off my
think it’s time to get this chip off my shoulder
some of them oops this one says old
some of them oops this one says old people can’t learn well my professor is
people can’t learn well my professor is
people can’t learn well my professor is out there in the dark somewhere ask her
out there in the dark somewhere ask her
out there in the dark somewhere ask her if I can’t learn with my grade point
if I can’t learn with my grade point
if I can’t learn with my grade point average at 3.8 this one says hmm this
average at 3.8 this one says hmm this
average at 3.8 this one says hmm this one says old women aren’t interested in
one says old women aren’t interested in
one says old women aren’t interested in sex really wait till Robert Redford
sex really wait till Robert Redford
sex really wait till Robert Redford rings my doorbell
here you take them I’ve got a
here you take them I’ve got a dissertation to finish
”
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