Wage Increase Deceptive, Say Feds

Another Snow, Another Day Off In W-b Area

Sunday, January 16, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 





For those of you who don't know a lot of people different than yourselves, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 you're missing out. I always joke that there's nothing more boring than a
party of lawyersCelebrate, don't denigrate, differences &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It's been an interesting week in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And no matter how you feel about Al Boris' accidental, but I'll wager,
truthful comment on gays, you might be able to agree at least with this: It's
good for a community to get worked up every now and then. It's good for people
to face their elected officials square in the eye and tell them, point blank,
"you've got it all wrong. Let's rethink this." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That's what happened at Thursday's council meeting when many groups and
individuals came to comment on Boris' remark about shooting homosexuals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The saddest part is, judging by their comments, our elected officials
didn't seem to hear. They looked like they were listening; they just didn't
hear. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I must admit I've never been able to understand the fear some seem to have
of people who are different, either because of religion, the color of their
skin or, in this case, sexual preference. I understand that much of this fear
is based on ignorance. What I don't understand is those who protect that
ignorance and build ever-growing walls around it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Before I moved here, I spent five years in San Francisco and one year in
New York City. I met all different kinds of people as I moved from one coast
to another. And although I would sometimes drive people crazy with all my
questions, I've always found it fascinating to learn about those who are
different. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The first college I went to must have known that. My freshman year they
paired me -- a Jewish girl from New York -- with the daughter of Christian
missionaries who had grown up in Japan. We made an unlikely, inseparable duo
that year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 My mother had an expression when I would question why something was
different: "That's what makes horse races." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I didn't understand that answer at first and she explained: if all horses
were exactly the same, each race would be a tie. Oh, I thought. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So this is what makes horse races. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 San Francisco was a major culture shock. It's hard to explain, but
California is a different state of mind than the rest of this country -- not
worse, just different. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 There is quite a large population of gays in San Francisco and I met many
-- in my apartment building, at work, in the chorus I joined. Being single at
the time, activities often took place in groups and the groups were often odd:
a male astrologist (hetero); a female features writer (hetero); a male
decorator (gay), an unemployed actor (gay), and so on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sexual orientation was mostly irrelevant, and I was often caught by
surprise: a man I had been attracted to told me he was gay; a female friend
showed up one day with her female companion. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Who knew? Who cared? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 We were all a tad odd, I guess. We hung out in North Beach, drinking
cappuccino, and we were more interested in comparing astrology charts than
determining sexual orientation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And me? I was working at my first newspaper job and I was madly in love
with that. I didn't need a man, or a woman. Just give me a good headline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What I have found -- of all profound revelations! -- is I have met
heterosexuals I don't like and those I do. That I have met blacks I don't like
and those I do. That I have met men I don't like and those I do. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For those of you who don't know a lot of people different than yourselves,
you're missing out. I always joke that there's nothing more boring than a
party of lawyers. The truth is life is more interesting when you know
different kinds of people with different viewpoints. If you don't believe me,
try it: Take a shot at meeting someone different and getting to know them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After all, that's what makes horse races. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Allison Walzer is vice-president and editor of The Times Leader.

For Those Of You Who Don't Know A Lot Of People Different Than Yourselves, 
You're Missing Out. I Always Joke That There's Nothing More Boring Than A 
Party Of Lawyers.

For Those Of You Who Don't Know A Lot Of People Different Than Yourselves, You're Missing Out. I Always Joke That There's Nothing More Boring Than A Party Of Lawyers.