L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 4 FRANCESCA BEZZONE NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS O c t o b e r , t h e m o n t h d e d i - cated to I t a - lian Herita- ge, is about to end. It's been an eventful four weeks for the world and for the US, a month encased in a year, 2020, which has brought to all of us pain, worry, fear. A particular month for the US especially, with a presidential election just around the corner, the POTUS catching and recov- e r i n g f r o m C o v i d - 1 9 a n d fears for health rising once again. So much so one could almost think, in fact, that Italian-Americans, this year, had something else in mind rather than celebrating their heritage. But this hasn't been the c a s e . B e i n g I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n i s m u c h m o r e than mere celebrations and, most of all, it isn't some- thing people discover and embrace just once a year. Just like we love our fathers and mothers always and not solely on the days officially dedicated to them, cultural identity is something that transcends official events and cannot and should not be relegated to officiality. W h e n w e a s k e d o u r readers, at the beginning of the month, to tell us what i t m e a n t f o r t h e m t o b e Italian-American, we knew they'd have answered posi- tively to our request. The result was a heartfelt pour- ing of cherished memories, ideas, connections; tales of reaching the US and making a home of it, all the while r e m a i n i n g p r o f o u n d l y attached to Italy; fond recol- lections of people who are no longer of this Earth, but w h o s e p r e s e n c e r e m a i n s strong, also through their heritage and what it meant to them. Of course, there was much talking around t h e l o n g - l a s t i n g d i a t r i b e about the righteousness of d e d i c a t i n g a d a y t o Columbus — diatribe that s e e m s s o i n c r e d i b l y unaware of the basic tenets of historical analysis, such contextualization and ade- quate evaluation of sources — and some considerations our readers made are cer- tainly worthy of some reflec- tion. But the most beautiful t h i n g e m e r g i n g f r o m t h e thoughts and words of our followers and readers, from your thoughts and words, is the enduring, strong and meaningful connection each and every one of you feels with Italy, with her culture and with all that the country represents in your eyes and hearts: family, love, her- itage, identity, a meaningful facet of your existence. W i t h p l e a s u r e , n o w , I leave space to your words. In their simplicity, in their incredible enthusiasm, they show all the love, pride and respect you have for your roots, along with that joy de vivre so often associated with us Italians, regardless to which side of the Atlantic we happen to live. The words of Victoria D e M a i o a r e p r o b a b l y those encompassing better t h e f e e l i n g o f a l l o f y o u , s h a r i n g a m e s s a g e t h a t returned powerful through y o u r m e s s a g e s : " b e i n g Italian-American," she says, "means everything to me. It's my roots, my heritage a n d i f i t w e r e n ' t f o r m y grandparents taking that v o y a g e , I w o u l d h a v e n o story. I am beyond grateful for their courage and grit." Pat Oliver shares similar thoughts. When asked what b e i n g I t a l i a n - A m e r i c a n m e a n t t o h e r , s h e w a s adamant: "Family. Family. Family! I'm half Sicilian half P i e d m o n t e s e . W o n d e r f u l m e m o r i e s s u r r o u n d g e t togethers with kids running around, tons of food and t r a d i t i o n s . M y f a m i l y o n both sides were hard work- ing farmers. It makes you understand their determi- nation coming to USA for a better life, but not giving up their heritage. Every time I go to Italy my soul sings. I am so proud of my roots!" Funnily enough, it came out that Pat's ancestors from Piedmont came from the same area as me: how small the world can be, and how short the step towards mak- ing, perhaps, a new friend. Joe Gannotti considers the courage and hardships his ancestors had to face a defining trait of his "being Italian-American," and sees them both as a reason to a p p r e c i a t e b e i n g a n American, too: "I think it means that I know where m y r o o t s a r e a n d u n d e r - standing the hardships my grandparents faced coming over here to America. (For t h i s r e a s o n ) I d o n ' t t a k e b e i n g a n A m e r i c a n f o r granted." S i m i l a r t o t h o s e o f Victoria, Pat and Joe is the thought of Elyse Shafer, who also stressed how her Italian-American heritage helps her feel closeness with people who are no longer around. She says she is "So thankful and proud to cele- b r a t e t h e t r a d i t i o n s t h a t both of my Italian parents and their parents imparted t o m e . M y h e r i t a g e h a s become even more impor- t a n t a s a w a y o f k e e p i n g t h e m c l o s e , e v e n t h o u g h they have passed." M i c h e l e G a b l e Napoli's message is very meaningful, too, because it comes from a non Italian- American who loved one for all her life: her perception of the "family," the sense of belonging she experienced with her husband's family — and still continues today, a f t e r h i s s a d p a s s i n g — touch the heart: "I am not Italian American, but I was married to a great guy who was. His family welcomed me into the fold. His Mom taught me so much about Italian Heritage Month is about to end, but our readers have plenty to say still about the meaning of being Italian American. (Photo: Shutterstock_1731431281) Continued to page 6 Being Italian-American: the voice of our readers

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