FROM THE EDITOR
Mom, you just don't
understand ... !
ho likes Andy Rooney, the rumpled character who
gives his outlandish points of view after the mea-
ty issues on 60 Minutes? I have always enjoyed his
sense of humor, his sometimes rather bizarre insight into com-
mon habits, and his comical satire. I happened to catch his com-
mentary the other night and his subject was one we are all wat-
ching closely . What else: The election . He jokingly played the
part ofa Dukakis supporter or a Bush supporter. While he wore
the Dukakis election button, he glorified that side and praised the
Democratic team .
He then jumped into the part of a Bush supporter and eulogized
the Republicans and their loyalty to the American way of life.
Amazingly, he played both parts very well because he was look-
ing through the appropriate eyes each time and masterfully got
into the character.
I laughed like everyone else but then it dawned on me that both
sides are absolutely right. Both Democrats and Republicans
know the answers, both have scrutinized the country and have
found the tender spots and what buttons to push to gather support.
But wait, l know that both sides can't possibly be right because
on November 4 only one side will be claiming victory. However,
it illustrates the proverbial two sides of the story. I remember
numerous times telling my mom that she was wrong! I remember
just as many times hertell ing me I was wrong! I never understood
that although we were discussing the same topic, she was look-
ing at the situation through adult , experienced eyes and I was
merely a wide-eyed, innocent child only beginning my life's
experiences.
Now , I' m the adult, experienced parent confronting the trials
and tribulations of my own offspring who are looking at each
situation through guiltless eyes. It's only now that I truly unders-
tand what my own parents suffered because I was not experienc-
ed enough to know that I really didn ' t know much .
How could I have been so righteous? How could I have stood
my ground about wanting to go out with a guy I 0 years older than
me and stay out as late as 1 wanted to thinking my parents were
old fuddy-duddies trying to stop me from having a good time?
But now I ask my kids how they can call me an old fuddy-duddy
when I am just trying to help them make the right and honest deci-
sions life calls for . But I learned that my parents were wrong
sometimes. I've also discovered that I am wrong sometimes, too.
If you never gain that knowledge, you will never understand
anyone else. My two oldest daughters are on their own now and
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have become wonderful adults that I am proud of. My daughter
who just became a teenager asked me the other day if I even
remembered what it was like to be young!
Yes, I do remember. There are things I regret and there are
memories I treasure. However, my daughter can ' t possibly put
herself in my place because the retrospection isn' t there . She
doesn' t know what it's like to be on the other side during an argu-
ment but I do. I'm applying my experience and I'm stepping in-
to her shoes , the same ones I outgrew with my youth.
What's happening in the coin-op industry isn ' t so ve ry dif-
ferent. Within our small, close-knit "family" the reare two ve ry
different opinions on what's right and what's not. Just like parent
and child, neither side is totally right but each is very strong in
their sentiments. I can only respect both attitudes but I find it
disturbing that each isn' t trying to see the other side a little
harder. A friend chastised me for something in the magazme that
was a technicality in wording that he said made it look like I was
"on the other side." Well , the " other side" is picking around
finding things that make them believe I have defected . Wrong
on both counts. I am not on anyone's side. This isn' t a war- at
least I don' t think it's become that yet. I am an unbiased observer.
I cannot step into either position with any authority or ex-
perience. But I can listen and assemble facts and truly see each
side.
We have an industry to nourish and raise. We are the respon-
sible adults drawing on our experience to make rational , clear
decisions. Seeing both points of view is even harder than siding
with one. Each has their own convictions and both are rigid in
those beliefs.
I challenge each one of you to sit down and talk with someone
from the other side, realJy talk about industry problems and solu-
tions. But instead of doing all the talking about why you arc right,
listen to the other guy with a completely open mind. In fact, pre-
tend you are going to have to defend his position and pull out
some positive aspects of his opinion. Think of your mom ex-
plaining to you why you were ''the only kid in America '' who
couldn ·1 drive just because you didn't have a driver's license!
Valerie Cognevich
Editor
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