What’s the Plan?

Back in the 1980s when I began to get active in Italian American affairs, I wrote a letter to Newsday, the regional newspaper of Long Island, critiquing an op-ed on Italian history.  A few days later my letter was published.  Shortly after, I received a...

Reflections on the First Easter

In the course of my self-studies one statement by historian Will Durant (Caesar and Christ) stands out.  “More Christians were killed by other Christians than by the Romans.”  He was referring to the systematic purge of ‘heretics’ who did not accept the...

Hebrews and Italians

On schedule, ABC-TV broadcast The Ten Commandments on Saturday night for Passover.  I recall seeing it for the first time in 1956 at the Loews Valencia in Jamaica, Queens (NYC).  Quite a visual impact for a 9-year-old kid.  Even more amazing was that I went without...

April: Opening the Season

The Romans named it Aprilis, the month when the Earth opens to produce beauty and sustenance.  Like Italians, the Romans were very expressive…and practical.  They called it as they saw it: Aperire means ‘to open’ in Latin (Aprire in Italian).  For the...

That Fork in the Road

We all have moments in life that affect our future.  It certainly happens when you find your ‘life’ partner or lose one.  Having children surely puts you on a different trajectory.  But sometimes a serendipitous event or an individual will present you...

I’M TALKIN’ TO YOU 

Are the film critics currently praising Robert De Niro for his performance in the new mob film Alto Knights aware that he hates children? Read on. In 2003, the self-proclaimed proud Italian American (though he is only 1/4 quarter Italian) announced his next project:...