There was once a time in this country when the elderly was a revered class of citizens. You would not dare hiss your teeth, whistle, curse or play certain songs in their presence. That is how deep the respect, if not love for them, ran.

Now, in this day and age, it is very unclear if that code of conduct even exists, let alone, is applicable.

A story published in THE STAR last Thursday was a clear indication of this. In that article, a 23-year-old man slapped the wrinkles off the face of a 65-year-old vendor because he claimed she short-changed him by $10. Now, we all know times are hard, but for $10? The story gets even more heart-wrenching to hear the man was even threatening to hit down the lady with a stone, at which point she was rescued by other people.

Where is the love? The good book says that in the last days the hearts of men will become cold. it seems that has long begun.

Now, on the flip side of the matter of love and respect, the front-page story in THE WEEKEND STAR is jaw-dropping, a 46-year-old woman having an affair with a 16-year-old teen? And stabbing that teen, leaving him hospitalised after hearing that the chap has a younger companion. This country is jumping from one extreme to the next.

Both the youngsters and the elders need love, respect and protection. We, as a nation, need to take greater moral responsibility.