we are always asked br to understand the other person's br viewpoint br no matter how br out-dated br foolish or br obnoxious. br br one is asked br to view br their total error br their life-waste br with br kindliness, br especially if they are br aged. br br but age is the total of br our doing. br they have aged br badly br because they have br lived br out of focus, br they have refused to br see. br br not their fault? br br whose fault? br mine? br br I am asked to hide br my viewpoint br from them br for fear of their br fear. br br age is no crime br br but the shame br of a deliberately br wasted br life br br among so many br deliberately br wasted br lives br br is.