Thursday, July 27, 2006

Message to Italian American Youth Attempting to Connect with his Italian Heritage

The ANNOTICO Report

Below I respond, to only one of a number of Emails I receive, from Italian American youth, who are exhilarated by their rather tardy, but at long last,  initial "connection" with their Heritage.

It is such a shame the we Elders of the Italian Community have Not provided sufficient Italian Heritage Studies programs, so that our youth might be more easily educated to, enjoy, and take pride in their Heritage.

It is even a greater shame that we Elders have Not seized upon the INTERNET to compensate for that previous "oversight". I have Long encouraged an "Internet Italian American Cultural Center", but my pleas have fallen on deaf ears, generally by those who think they can get all the Italian Culture they need from their plate :(

Rinaldo,  Thank you for writing.

RE your Comment about your recent initial "connection" to your Italian Heritage, and ... << I'm curious to know how you realized your Italian heritage and what it means to truly be Italian.>>>

Rinaldo, Welcome to the "fold". And Congratulations on your Impressive Progress. I must admit, I got a MUCH LATER start than you.

I had fierce Italian Pride from the age of 11, when I first remember being subjected to what was to become a life time of Italian "slurs". But it was a "defensive reactive" pride, and a "superficial" pride, because I had NO Idea of the Richness of my Italian heritage. I was only exposed by distorted ridicule to the negative aspects. Therefore, I must admit that because of the frequency and degree of “slurs", that "inwardly" I felt an Italian "shame".

When I was 28, just after graduating from Law School, I became Director of International Sales for a Top 5 American Record Company, and therefore was required (such torture:) to spend 3 months at a time in Europe on several occasions.

I had this unusually strong curiosity about Italy, and I made sure that I had numerous justifications to visit Italy, and also arranged my schedule so that weekends could be spent in Italy. Other times, I went on vacations in Italy.

I have been the full length of  Italy, from what is now called the French Riviera, ( formerly part of Savoy, and therefore Italian), through Genoa, Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome, Naples, Pompeii, and the entire perimeter of Sicily (which was a very popular trip for the Upper Crust English, at the beginning of the Last Century), and so many others.

But visiting is ONLY the FIRST STEP!!!!!! And I must say, I went as a typical IGNORANT Tourist. I had not taken the time to read about the History of Italy, or the significance of the Places I saw.

It was only in my mid 40s (I'm now mid 70s) that I started to read about Italy, but it was a slow "slog", because there were few people who could recommend books, the books were difficult to obtain, and there were virtually no classes available. In spite of that, I was able to become somewhat less "ignorant".

But it was the INTERNET, and Google, that made it possible for me to DIG DEEPLY.

The more I dug, the more I was Impressed, and eventually became informed enough so that I can discuss most aspects of my Italian and Italian American Heritage without embarrassing myself.

I also became aware that No other European Heritage can come close. The only other civilizations worth considering are the Babylonian, Persian, and Egyptians, because they provided a foundation for Hellenic Ideas, that Italians took to astronomic levels and spread throughout western Europe, forming the basis of Western Civilization.

While Search is Great, what the Italian American Community Really NEEDS is a CULTURAL Center on the INTERNET. In other words a PORTAL, also called an Aggregate Site, where everything you wanted to know, and should know about the Italian and Italian American is available in ONE PLACE.

A Place where one can go, similar to a "brick and mortar" Cultural center, with a Library, a Reading room, and Audio room, a Video room, an Conference room, a Chat room, an Information desk, etc., etc., BUT on the INTERNET.... in the comfort of your home.

A Place where those of us who are "hungry" for knowledge can "IMMERSE” ourselves, in knowledge that not only do we have only a cursory awareness of, but in many cases NO awareness that certain important aspects even exists!!!!!!

How much do you know about how the Roman Empire "civilized" all of western Europe including the Brits, and Rome's even current Influence on Western Civilization? Name them?

What do you know about how the ITALIAN Renaissance rescued Europe from the Middle Ages, that Europe had sunk to after the Barbarians overran the Roman Empire???

Are you even aware that Italy had a THIRD Epoch, that preceded the Romans, "Magna Grecia" that took place ONLY in Southern Italy and Sicily" and NOT Greece?!!!!!! Pythagoras and Archimides were just a few of the legions of creativity that flourished in Sicily.

How familiar are you with the Success and Learning of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies???

What about Sicily being the center of  Mediterranean Civilization, and at one time it's "bread basket", and the "gate keeper" of East-West Trade in the Mediterranean, that made it a "Critical and Strategic" Target, so that Palermo is widely considered to be the most invaded city in the world!!!!

And not let me get started on the Italian American Experience, that starts with Columbus, and influential Italians prior to 1776, and un celebrated mentors Beccarria and Mazzei,(of Jefferson and Adams considered the authors of the Declaration of Independence), the variety of experiences, ranging from fishermen, farmers, miners, railroad builders, vintners, indentured row crop laborers, and then the torrent of "wop" prejudice,defamation, and discrimination starting in the 1880s, including the largest mass lynching in American history of 11 Italian Americans in New Orleans in 1891, the "fascist" paint brushing in the 1940s, and the "mafia" automatic association starting in the 1970s, currently manifesting itself in "The Sopranos".

The hope of the future of the perpetuation of the "positive" aspects of Italian and Italian American Heritage, and opposing the distortions, lies with your generation, who understands the POWER of the  INTERNET.

May you have the vision, the strength and the fortitude, to utilize it with wisdom. You unfortunately can not expect much help or guidance from many of your Elders, who in too many cases, cling to the "horse and buggy" ways!!!!!!!

From: Rinaldo Rizzo
To: Richard Annotico
Date: 7/26/2006

Subject: Italian American who is fascinated by his culture.

I read your article about Italian Americans knowing nothing about their heritage and, what it truly means to be Italian. I agree with your view 100 percent. What I found most interesting about your review is how you said that you also used to be one of "those." I'm curious to know how you realized your Italian heritage and what it means to truly be Italian.

Being 19 years old and born and raised in America by 1st generation Italian parents who also knew little about what it means to be Italian, I myself  have realized what it means to be truly Italian.

For me this happened when I went to Italy (Napoli specifically) for the first time about five years ago. My grandmother on my father's side has sisters in Torre del Greco. We went to stay with them for Easter for about a month. I didn't know one word of Italian when I went there and found the Italy that I had heard so much about during my childhood fascinating and strange at the same time.

It hit me that I had been missing what being Italian was all about. For years I had been used to calling myself "Italian" in America, but after going to Italy and seeing the "real" Italians as I like to call them, I knew I had a lot to learn.

I was amazed by the rich culture and absolutely fascinated by the beautiful sounding language and vibrant Italian lifestyle. My Italian cousins were kind enough to show me all around Naples and, I was stunned by the mix of the old and new which is so strong there. When I returned to New York, it became my passion to learn all I could about Italy minus the Italian American stereotypes.

I now talk fluent Italian and plan on majoring in Italian in college. I go to Naples every summer and enjoy the wonderful company of my Italian family and at the same time learn more
about the real Italy. When I go to Naples now they are amazed by how much I have learned about Italy and its language. "Sei come noi", said my 88 year old great aunt this past year when I went to Italy. I'm proud to be an American but will never forget about my Italian heritage.

It is rooted deep in me and burns like a fire that will never go out.

Rinaldo