L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 Dear Readers, An October assortment of Italian connections "lest we forget". Columbus Quincentenary Celebrations, special exhibits and an official tour of actual sized replicas of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria had been planned throughout the year 1992, the 500th anniversary of the landing of Colombus on the island he named San Salvador, but unfortunately there was no smooth sailing. In one city, drums and chants echoed in the background as demonstrators staged a mock death scene in the streets before a Columbus Parade passed by. In another, a dozen people laid down in anintersection before the parade was in view and clad only in faux Indian blankets, chanted "Celebrate Pride not Genocide". Red liquid "Blood of the Indians" flowed and was spilled along the parade route as slurs and obscenities were hurled from the sidelines by protesters. *** Draft Notices for World War II began going out in October 1940, not after December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, as many believe. In October 1940, President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress announced that all males 18 years and older had to register for selective service. He announced on the radio that world situation being as it was, especially the Germans taking over European countries and some African countries with their strong military forces, things looked as if Japan was getting ready to join the Axis powers. One day shortly after, President Roosevelt picked out the number of the first group to be drafted. This was broadcasted on all radio stations Americans stopped what they were doing to listen to the President. Then December 7, 1941 Japan bombed Pearl Harbor thus causing and President Congress Roosevelt to declare war on Japan, Germany and Italy. On January 15, 1942, a month after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Fra Noi columnist, Mario Avignone recalled that he and friends were in "Roseland" at the Rosebowl Casino Tavern discussing the war and decided to enlist in the service the next day. Nine of the fellows were accepted but they rejected me as underweight. I talked to one of the medical officers and asked how much do I have to weigh to be accepted in the armed forces? He looked at me and smiled. "You are underweight and no one wants you. The Army, Marine, Navy and Air Force do not want you because you are too much underweight". I asked the officer "how much does a person have to weight to be accepted?". He replied "you have to weight at least 120 pounds". I was determined to help our country and asked the officer "if I went downstairs and ate 6 pounds of bananas that would bring my weight to 118 pounds. Will you accept me then?". He laughed and called some other officers over and told them that I wanted to eat 6 pounds of bananas to bring my weight up to 118 pounds so I would be accepted. Then he put his arms around my shoulders and said "We know you love our country and want to help. We decided to accept you at 112 pounds but you must promise to eat a lot to get your weight up. We will enlist you in the "Army Air Corps" (as it was called then). I looked worried and said "Sir I do not want to fly an airplane". He again laughed, "No", he replied, "for every man in an aircrew there are 8 men on the ground who must support him, such as cooks, K.P., medical, office clerks, etc. You have a good record as an office clerk and Air Corps needs good clerks. On that day I was accepted in the Air Corps and eventually served with the U.S. Armed Forces in Italy. The late Mario Avignone was one of the hundreds of American GI and British soldiers stationed in Cerignola (Foggia) and other camps near San Giovanni Rotondo, who met Padre Pio (1987-1967) elevated to Saint Padre Pio on June 16, 2002. *** St. Francis of Assisi (11811226), Patron Saint of the city of San Francisco as well as animals, pet owners and veterinarians has an October 4 Feast Day, so to readers named Frank, Francesco, Francine or Francesca, a belated "Buon Onomastico". Francis, known now for his life of poverty and peace was once neither poor nor peaceful. As a spoiled young man who lived a life of ease, he spent most of his days resting so he could party at night www.italoamericano.com with his friends or along with his friends, doing battle against the Perugians. Italy didn't become a unified kingdom until the 19th century, so in Francis's time, frequent battles took place between the cities and states. The people of Assisi and Perugia often were at battle. In one fight, Francis and his friends went to defend Assisi. The Perugians defeated Assisi, however, and Francis was jailed for a year, providing him with plenty of time to think of how he had wasted his life thus far. *** In these turbulent times it is good to reflect upon Francis's peacemaking abilities, which are the subject of legends, including one that has Francis making peace between a man-eating wolf and the villagers that were terrified of it. Perhaps that is just a legend, but there are simple things that you can do to promote a peaceful life for yourself and your neighbors, i.e. turn down your radio or television volume after10 p.m., avoid honking your car horn or cutting in front of others. Do your best to incorporate some of the thoughts, expressed in the prayer of St. Francis in your daily living. Francis was born in 1182 to a merchant couple who imported luxurious fabrics and sold them 23 in Italy. His parents thought Francis would also become a successful fabric merchant. Instead, he decided to join a crusade and had a fancy suit of armor made for himself. After doing time in a Perugian prison, Francis turned away from war to peace and vowed he would wait a further sign from God. Francis then had a vision in which God told him to repair His church. Francis took this literally and with his own hands began to rebuild the church he had been praying at. But God meant a bigger church: Francis's mission was to help rebuilt the whole faith. While others took up arms in the later crusades, Francis went to the Muslims leader with a message of peace. He attempted to express God's brotherhood by truly living by the Gospel. His life of poverty and wandering, while good for his soul, was hard on his body and he died in 1226. The order he founded, the Franciscan Friars, carries on his humble teachings in every corner of the globe. *** Italo and Columbus Bashing took many forms and in 1992 from my friend Joe Fuoco, then Editor of "The Echo", an ItalianAmerican newspaper in Providence, Rhode Island comes this letter enlightening a group that changed the lyrics of the "Wiffenpoof" to an Italo slur song. Dear Editor: The apparent ethnic slur uttered by certain Friendly Sons of St. Patrick "Goombah" singers ignores certain obvious facts. To the cretins who participated in the writing and singing of this song I offer the following... "While my ancestors were discovering the world and creating objects of art that will endure for eternity, their ancestors were still painting their bodies blue and swinging from trees" . V.V. *** God Bless America ***

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