When the 32-year-old Emmanuel Macron and the 72-year-old Donald Trump were elected the President of France and the U.S. respectively, we can feel the difference in attitude of the two countries towards the age: Young people are probably more valued in France than in the U.S..

当32岁的伊曼纽尔·马克龙和72岁的唐纳德·特朗普分别当选为法国总统和美国总统时，我们可以感受到两国对待年龄态度上的差异：在法国年轻人可能比在美国更受重视。

Of course, the youth have every reason to be valued in any culture. They are the mostcreative and energetic population. It is no exaggeration to say that young people are what keeps the world going. Yet, with their experience and knowledge, old people are also a valuable asset for any nation. If young people keep the world going, then it is the old who keep the young people going. 

当然，年轻人在任何文化中都有被重视的理由。他们是最有创造力和活力的群体。毫不夸张地说，年轻人是维持世界运转的力量。然而，以他们的经验和知识，老年人也是任何国家的宝贵财富。如果年轻人让世界运转，那么正是老年人让年轻人运转。

However, it is often found that, in some cultures, the youth are more valued, while in others, the old are more respected. The difference, I believe, mainly arises from the traditional values of a given culture. In East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea, for example, people of the old age are often looked up to and have the final say over many important issues, while in many European countries such as France, Germany, and Swede, the important government positions are often held by young people, because people in these countries traditionally trust young people more than they do the old. 

然而，人们常常发现，在一些文化中，年轻人更受重视，而在另一些文化中，老年人则更受尊重。我相信，这种差异主要来自于特定文化里的传统价值观。例如，在中国、日本和韩国等东亚国家，老年人往往受到尊敬并在许多重要问题上拥有最终发言权，而在许多欧洲国家如法国、德国和瑞典，重要的政府职位往往是由年轻人担任的，因为这些国家的人们传统上对年轻人的信任多于对老年人的信任。

The difference in attitude towards the old age and the youth also reflects the immediate needs of a particular culture. If a community suffers from the serious aging problem, young people will be more valued to keep the community competitive. By contrast, in a community overwhelmed with young people, the old age will be more valued to keep the community harmonious. 

对老年人和青年的态度不同，也反映了一种特定文化的直接需要。如果一个群体遭遇严重的老龄化问题，年轻人就会被重视以保持群体的竞争力。相反，在一个充斥着年轻人的群体里，老年人则会被更看重以保持群体的和谐。

To sum up, both the old age and the youth should be valued, yet whether any one of them is more valued depends upon the traditional values and the immediate status quo of the culture under discussion.

总之，老年人和青年都应该受到重视，但是他们中的任何一个是否得到更多的重视，取决于特定文化的传统价值观和眼下的现状。

1. When the 32-year-old Emmanuel Macron and the 72-year-old Donald Trump were elected the President of France and the U.S. respectively, we can feel the difference in attitude of the two countries towards the age

当32岁的伊曼纽尔·马克龙和72岁的唐纳德·特朗普分别当选为法国总统和美国总统时，我们可以感受到两国对待年龄态度上的差异

2. If young people keep the world going, then it is the old who keep the young people going.

如果年轻人让世界运转，那么正是老年人让年轻人运转。

3. In East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Korea, for example, people of the old age are often looked up to and have the final say over many important issues,

例如，在中国、日本和韩国等东亚国家，老年人往往受到尊敬并在许多重要问题上拥有最终发言权，

4. By contrast, in a community overwhelmed with young people, the old age will be more valued to keep the community harmonious.

相反，在一个充斥着年轻人的群体里，老年人则会被更看重以保持群体的和谐。

5. To sum up, both the old age and the youth should be valued, yet whether any one of them is more valued depends upon the traditional values and the immediate status quo of the culture under discussion.

总之，老年人和青年都应该受到重视，但是他们中的任何一个是否得到更多的重视，取决于特定文化的传统价值观和眼下的现状。