Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Assn.

President's Message--Aug/Sept 2000

Aug 02, 2000

EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENCES

By Willie Nolan, BWNA President

Among the features that make our neighborhood such a great place to live, the convenient access to downtown, beautiful homes lining clean and safe streets, and great shops and restaurants, is our diversity. On the same block we have people of all ethnic backgrounds, millionaires living next to those struggling just to get by, playing children and our experienced elders. Every day we have a choice to either embrace or criticize our differences. Every day within our own neighborhood we have the opportunity to grow in knowledge and understanding that is not achievable in any university, just by talking with those around us.

Over the next few (very few?) months, Mother Nature provides us with the best excuse to get out and enjoy the neighborhood and to meet or become reacquainted with those around us. To help out, the two big neighborhood events, Fremont Fest and National Night Out, conveniently land right in the middle of summer and provide further excuse to get out of our overheated houses. Make a favorite dish, grab a neighbor and stroll over to the party. Yours truly will be flipping burgers and dogs, some of which hopefully will be edible (anyone with a smidgen of grill talent is encouraged to take over!).

A suggestion: When looking for a seat to enjoy the feast, sit next to someone with whom you could not possibly have anything in common. Seek out that surly old guy with a cane, that young girl with a pierced tongue and tattoo, or that nervous couple chatting only with each other. Approach them without judging and I bet you will be surprised how quickly the night flies by and how you can?’t wait to see them again.