Ageism in Nashua

Ageism is a phenomenon I have started experiencing in my town of Nashua.  I am quite taken back by this form of discrimination/prejudice/bigotry as a 55 year old female.  I have gotten through life with nary a scar from sexism and yet, now, I am first-hand witness to ageism, repeatedly. 

I am used to befriending folks of all ages. I thought if we have common goals and
interests, then age is a blank slate. In particular, I’m passionate about downtown Nashua and those events that will vitalize (or re-vitalize, as some would have it).  I take pride when new businesses thrive, charity abounds, and our local government betters our community. Should it matter the age of our citizens giving back?

I hear a lot about the youth of our city and desire to attract youth.  I’m all for it.  I understand you want their increased number of income-yielding years. However, be careful with the message you’re trying to get across. Time and again, the not so subtle message implied is that we want youth exclusively and there is too wide of a generalization that only youth can fill the voids of new ideas. I, for one, believe the goal should always be inclusive of all ages. For example, if the tangible goal is getting people to live downtown, then address living downtown instead of generalizing who it is that would be interested. What if I’m interested? Do you want to discount me by constantly excluding me from the target audience? What about all our citizens?  Shouldn't you commend those who already live in Nashua, as well as embrace those you want to entice to move here?

The point is getting youth to move to and/or stay in Nashua should not have to be at the expense of all other generations.  Diversity -- is that too difficult a concept for our aspirations?