In America, birthdays soon mutate from happy events shared by family, friends, co-workers, and superiors to evidence of an unspeakable crime. That crime is becoming older.
Many years ago genius in music Louie Armstrong sang that his sin was in his skin. Our sin is that we have had too many birthdays to remain a premier brand in the labor market.
The latest instance of that might be the exiting of comic Jay Leno from his network show after the 2013 - 2014 season. HOLLYWOOD REPORTER notes that Leno could be on short time, replaced by Jimmy Fallon.
Of course, there are aging players seemingly unaffected by the American preference for youth on its labor front lines. Those range from Rupert Murdoch to Betty White. Good for them. Then there are the rest of us who have been forced out or not let in.
Our mission, like those African-Americans, women, and gays embraced, is to transform the perception and work policies about aging. Few will help us. This is our fight. We can show up for it if we get over the shame inflicted on us about "not looking young." Sixty may be the new 30 but it doesn't look like 30.
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