Wind Beneath His Skis 
There's Man And There's Mountain.

Sunday, January 08, 1995 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 9B 





You can go home again and bring compassion along &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A native of Kingston, I left home in 1949 at age 19. Since then I have
travelled the world and lived in many places both in this country and abroadI
have visited the Holy Land many times and celebrated Christmas in Bethlehem.
Since 1967, I have made Washington, D.C., my place of resience. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But none of these places was ever "home." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Home was always the Wyoming Valley, the place where I was nurtured and
where my ancestors lived and died. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I retired at the end of 1994 and no longer having to earn a living and with
sufficient funds for a comfortable retirement, I plan within the next few
weeks to come back home to the Wilkes-Barre area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I have subscribed to The Times Leader for some time, in order to get a
sense of what the community is like today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A few things I have read in recent weeks made me hesitate about returning: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I have read about the community leaders who want to shut down the St.
Vincent de Paul facility which feeds the poor and homeless. I have read
comments like "it attracts `undesirables' to our community." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 More recently, I have read about a black family harassed by its neighbors. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When I was growing up in Kingston, I remember prejudice and bigotry in our
community. I remember words like "kike," "dago," "hunky," among others --words
meant to demean and to hurt. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I hated this prejudice even as a child. When these words were used by
members of my family -- and they were -- I was doubly embarrassed. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So do I still want to return? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Yes, I do. When I read the insightful and compassionate columns of Steve
Corbett, for example, or the thoughtful and intelligent columns of Tom Bigler,
I am reassured that there are still good and intelligent people in
Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 I also love the cartoons The Times Leader chooses to print on the editorial
page, although many of them do not originate in the area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 My recent favorite was the one where Mary says to Joseph "No room at the
inn? Where does he want us to go?" "To see a movie called `Boys Town,"'
replies Joseph. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Were Joseph to bring his pregnant wife to Wilkes-Barre today would there be
room for them in the inn? Or would the community decide that undesirables were
being attracted to the community? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The devil is alive and well in Wilkes-Barre, I fear. But he is also alive
and well in every other community in which I have ever lived. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But Jesus, also, is alive and well in the community. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because I know that there are compassionate and kind people in the
community, I will be happy to return. Perhaps, instead of criticizing, I ca~n
work to help make it a better place. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A Happy New Year to all in my once and future home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nancy Moyer-Olson &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Washington, D.C. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

You Can Go Home Again And Bring Compassion Along 
A Native Of Kingston, I Left Home In 1949 At Age 19. Since Then I Have 
Travelled The World And Lived In Many Places Both In This Country And Abroad.

You Can Go Home Again And Bring Compassion Along A Native Of Kingston, I Left Home In 1949 At Age 19. Since Then I Have Travelled The World And Lived In Many Places Both In This Country And Abroad.