European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 24, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                How to succeed at Small talk by Enid Nemy new York times it s not one of life a major arts or accomplishments but there s no denying that there1 s a certain skill to it a and that its useful. Its called Small talk and generally that s a pretty accurate description because it s the kind of chit Chat banter or Calm what you will exchanged at Large fairly impersonal social events. V it s impossible to define or categorize the kinds of people who Are Good modestly successful or hopeless at Small talk. Shy introverted people unworldly academics and visitors from places sometimes described As the Sticks Are often remarkably adept at this very minor Art. On the other hand celebrities of various kinds who theoretically should be comfortable in Public situations Are often the most reticent and retiring people when faced with strangers at big events. This May have nothing to do with modesty or fear of being mobbed but rather with the very real worry of not knowing How to Start a conversation with someone they be never met before and know Tittle or nothing about. The same situation frequently applies to More Ordinary mortals who Are considered extroverts by their friends. Roger Martin is one of those people a Man who has led a fairly Public life but who nevertheless describes himself As Quot pretty bad Quot at Small talk. A. A a a restaurant consultant who has been involved with some Well known food establishments he has spent considerable time chatting with restaurant patrons and. Managing very Well. However that did no to mean , he said Quot because i was doing it  Quot it s like actors who can be great onstage and very different off Quot he said. Quot when i m on professionally i m Fine. When i m in a personal situation at a party with a number of strangers i veer in on a single person and stay  there Are apparently two important factors in facilitating Small talk one possible for anyone the other  a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a  a a the first and probably the most important according to the men and women who feel they have a certain. Facility in such banter is a genuine interest in people a sincere desire to know More about them. V the other is starting from the Vantage Point of an interesting or prestigious Job or one with an organization that Sparks interest Quot i m pretty Good at Small talk but i think its improved since i came Here Quot said Monie Begley a vice president of Madison Square Garden in new York. Quot when i Tell people where i work they All want to know something about the Garden or they have complaints or suggestions a what the basketball team should be doing what the rangers should be  Begley said that at one time she began Small talk with comments on current news and then went on to Quot poking around to find a subject that would interest . Now with her Garden identification she often does no to have to make much of an Effort. The other person is Only top Happy to comment on her place of employment. Quot i just listen Quot she said. -. Harold Reed said he became Quot a pro Quot at Small talk at a time in his life when Quot he attended two and three parties a night. A a. A. Quot i try to. Find something we have in common that we re both interested in a said Reed an Art dealer and theater producer. Quot i never consider Small talk an end in itself but that it can Lead to a deeper More . A. A a a a a a. A to Dominick Dunne the novelist and Magazine writer. Small talk reveals  the subject matter might not be of interest but the. Subjects people pick Tell something about them a he said. Quot you often get a take on somebody this  and then there Are men and women like Susan l. Taylor vice president of essence communications and Joseph e. Brooks chairman of Ann Taylor inc., two of an Ever increasing number of people who resolutely refuse to take part in  conversation. Quot i Don t know How to chit Chat and i Don t want to spend any Energy on it Quot Taylor said. Quot i m drawn to people i can have meaningful conversations with and i never have a problem because i believe such spirits find each other. Many people ask about the other person but done to really care i want to know and i think people sense that in  Brooks does no to Shilly Shally after his initial greeting. His favorite subjects Are current events and issues business concepts and ethics and history and he never hesitates to voice his opinions. A. Quot i m provocative in what i think is a Nice Way Quot he. Said. Quot i believe that conversation should stimulate people make them think. The Only reason people  a because that is what is offered to them Quot readers action Lin too much prejudice in Beetle Bailey a i am sick and tired notto mention highly offended by mod Walker s Beetle Bailey. This comic strip is chock full of prejudice racial stereotyping and put Downs directed primarily at Blacks. Its funny How everyone else s headgear fits properly but it. Flaps. The strip published dec. 23.1990, is a real work of Art. A v a 1 a Ai believe it one reviewed Beetle Bailey comic strips for any 120-Day period the revelation would be that this kind of portrayal is not isolated. A Blacks Are Here in saudi Arabia in quite a Large percentage sucking Down dust just like everyone else. Why should they be the Brunt of that kind of humor that same kind of thinking on anyone s part is the same kind that has America polarized along racial u. Flap boundaries today. Beetle has served the american military in Fine fashion but can Only continue to do so if this acting out of prejudice and put Down under the Guise of humor is. Discontinued. A a a a \ a ,. . Mack operation desert storm Bill Janocha studio assistant to Mort Walker  a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a  it is unfortunate to find a Reader perceiving such fault in Mort walkers comic strip when his intention is to entertain and not to offend. ,. You stated that the strip Quot is chock full of prejudice racial stereotyping and put Downs directed primarily at Blacks Quot a a a a a a. A a a Quot a a. The character of it. Flap was introduced to the Beetle Bailey strip in 1970. Here is a passage from the 1984 Book collection Quot the Best of Beetle Bailey Quot Quot Many people had urged me for years to put a Black in my strip. The trouble was if i made him a Lazy goof off like the regular cast i d get complaints. Finally i thought of creating a Macho Type who liked wild clothes and it. Flap was born. There was an initial fuss from people who either thought i was propagandizing or ridiculing Blacks. The stars and stripes banned me again and senator Proxmire had to convince them to re Instate me. Now the. Flurry has died Down and it. Flap is a favorite with Many Quot or. Walker holds no such prejudices As the Reader has proclaimed. His  come from Many different ethnic backgrounds and each has his or her. Own vice in order to be distinctive and funny Beetle is a Lazy Sarge is Short tempered and overeat general Hal track is stupid and less than admirable in his interpersonal relations toward his wife and Secretary miss Huxley Zero is slow witted and naive it. Fuzz is Picky and a Brown Noser killer a relentless girl Chaser Etc. Because it. Flap likes to Wear unusual clothing during off duty i Don t think that this is deserving of the current criticism directed at this character or the strip As a whole. A a. A the purpose of this humor strip is to poke gentle fun at the silly whimsy of All its characters and life in general. Editor s note the Pacific stars and stripes in 1954 drummed Beetle Bailey off its pages because they said the strip poked fun at officers. The newspaper again banned Beetle when Mort Walker introduced it. Flap in 1970. \. Why no indefinite overseas Tours it a i would  know Why the army does not have an indefinite tour available for overseas like the air Force does. A a a a. A a a  a a t would think that it s better to keep someone Here who wants to stay especially if you Are married and have two children like myself. A name and location withheld. A tuft. A. 1 a r a a a a a. A a Juhls Denis a. Keating marketing and advertising office office of the Deputy chief of Stafl for personnel department of the army Washington replies. The distribution of army manpower is driven by the need to sustain the army s Forward deployed forces. Date eligible to return from overseas Deros is an integral element in managing the distribution and therefore the personnel readiness of the Force. The Deros provides a planning target for the personnel Community to meet overseas personnel requirements. Thus it enables the army to program replacement personnel and just As importantly allows the army to develop the personnel inventory 101 future needs. A a. A a. A a a the air Force has advised this Headquarters that their program has been discontinued in All overseas areas. Except Alaska and Hawaii. To write us a readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions. About life overseas in a military environment or. Questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If Yog have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers actin line co the Start and stripes Apo 09211-4211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest tour readers. A a. A a page16 a the stars and stripes wednesday april 24, 1991