There has long been a debate about whether old people should be forced to retire from work at the age of 55 or 60, regardless of(不管, 不顾)their own wishes. People in favor of this say that old people, having worked for over thirty years, should not go on working, because physically they are not as strong, healthy and energetic as they used to be, and mentally they are not able to endure the same pressure of having to work to earn a living as young people are. Personally, I do not agree with this point of view for the following reasons:
First, it seems to me that no one should be forced to change his/her lifestyle unless he/she has committed a crime(犯罪). People, whether they are old or young, should have the right to decide their own way of life. Just as young people can choose to stop working and enjoy their leisure time as long as they can make ends meet, old people should also be allowed to continue working, provided that they are still qualified for their jobs.
Second, there are many jobs that are especially suitable for old people, such as jobs that call for more experience and wisdom than physical power. With their rich experience in both work and life, many old people would make good consultants, instructors, coaches, doctors and psychologists, to mention only a few.
Last but not least, some old people do not go on working simply for economic reasons. It seems to them that there is more to work than just making money. They simply enjoy working as an indispensable(不可缺少的) part of their lives. Some of them even develop various mental and physical problems after retiring from work, and it seems that the best way to keep them in good healthe and high spirits is to allow them to keep working.
All in all(总而言之), I believe that not only should old people's physical conditions be taken into consideration but also their psychological needs should be respected. Therefore, letting them do whatever they are fond and capable of doing will make them much happier than forcing them to stay isolated from society and endure loneliness in their twilight (黄昏的) years.
