VOL. 114 - NO. 21 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MAY 21, 2010 $.30 A COPY Is the Mexican Government OCTOBER IS ITALIAN HERITAGE MONTH the Problem? ANNUAL ESSAY CONTEST by Jose Lugo The current immigration working class values. But situation between Mexico yet the problems just do not and America has many seem to be getting solved. Americans divided between Something has to be done, legalizing them and deport- to stop the escalating vio- ing them and tempers are lence, crime and constant flaring on both sides. But is immigration problems. this the fault of the Mexican To begin with, if you’re a immigrants, or is it the fault private citizen in Mexico and of the Mexican government? you want to start your own To begin with, Mexico is a business you will find your- mess. There is massive cor- self against a wall of ob- ruption, oppressive bureau- stacles that include corrupt cracy, untouchable powerful government officials that special interest groups, ram- want a bribe from you to do pant tax evasion, monopolies anything, then there is the and ever increasing crime paperwork of permits, li- along with dangerous illegal censes, registrations etc. All Seated from left to right: Sal Bramante OIHM Treasurer, Scholarship recipients, drugs with vicious drug of which any business can Jessica Villalta, Dorcas Liliane, Ponce Maldonado, Amy Erazo, Emily Feeney and Anna gangs that will not stop at do without, the only reason Quadri, Co-Director of Public Relations, OIHM. Standing from left to right: OIHM anything to deal their drugs. all of this paperwork exists Education Director Dr. John Christoforo, Scholarship recipients, Emmit Tkach, But strangely, some eco- is because the untouchable Antonio Zegarelli, Dominic Canteruccio, Brandon Hamel, Joe Masciulli, Nelson Alvarez, nomics say the Mexican powerful special interest John Federico, Sam Solomon, Alec Petrosian and Joseph Padellaro. economy has many sound groups that control Mexico do (Photo by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) economic factors going for it. not want any competition. Each year, the October is Italian Heritage on Antonio Meucci, the real inventor of It has many natural re- These interest groups all Month Committee sponsors many events the telephone. The 2009-2010 recipients sources, good farm land, have special connections throughout Massachusetts. Among them numbered nineteen, from schools through- thousands of miles or beach with the government that is an essay contest advertised throughout out the Commonwealth. front land that is great for they constantly maintain the school systems in the state. With the On Sunday, May 16, 2010 the Dante development (a definite plus with bribes. title “Italian and Italian American Con- Alighieri Society hosted a reception for the with American beaches get- It’s no wonder that the tributions to World Civilization,” interested awardees, their families and friends. Three ting oily), large oil reserves students accept the challenge and develop of the winners, were selected to read their and a work force with good (Continued on Page 15) a 300 word essay that is submitted to the essays to the guests. organization’s education division, chaired by The awards were presented by Chairman Post-Gazette columnist, Dr. John Christoforo. of the Board Dr. Steven Maio, OIHM Presi- A select group of OIHM educators judge the dent Cav. Kevin Caira and Education Direc- essays, select the best and award certifi- tor Dr. John Christoforo. For those of News Briefs cates, cash prizes and books about famous you with school age children, the 2010-2011 by Sal Giarratani Italians to the winners. The 2010 books in- contest will begin throughout Massachu- cluded “Italians in Music” and a biography setts this coming October. ACLU Right on this Issue I don’t often agree with the ACLU, but when it comes to their charge that the South Hadley Mayor’s Column School Committee violated a parent’s free speech right when it had town cops usher him by Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston out of the meeting after he called for the resig- This week Boston celebrates our sec- The city hosted this year the first-ever nation of the committee’s chairman as well as ond annual Boston Bike Week. Two years Bicycling Safety Summit, bringing to- the school superintendent and high school prin- ago we created Boston Bikes to begin gether city and transportation officials cipal in the wake of the Phoebe Prince suicide. the process of making Boston a more with the cycling community for an open During the April 14 meeting the School Com- bike-friendly city and I am proud to say discussion on how to make Boston’s roads mittee chairman actually told the parent, “This that we continue to make great progress safer for all those who pass through our is not your First Amendment right! You are in making Boston a safer and more city. Boston Police Department (BPD) here as a guest of the school committee.” accessible place for cyclists. announced that they would immediately From Condemning Terror to More than 100 area cyclists kicked off launch a focused enforcement effort Preaching Jihad Boston Bike Week with a 2 mile ride aimed at both cyclists and motorists in across the city, from City Hall to Back an effort to assist them to better share The above was the actual NY Times headline Bay, where we celebrated the opening of the road, including the strict enforce- on Sunday, May 9. The story of Anwar Al- our newest bike lane on Commonwealth ment of Massachusetts traffic laws dedi- Awlaki, a radical US-born Muslim cleric now Avenue. We also unveiled the first of sev- cated to bicycle and pedestrian safety. hiding in Yemen who now believes, “Jihad is eral new convenient bike racks that fea- The BPD is also researching the possible becoming as American as apple pie and as Brit- ture the Boston Bikes logo, with more implementation of an enhanced report- ish as afternoon tea.” Following 9/11, this than 250 new bike racks expected to be ing mechanism to document all accidents young man was condemning terrorism at his installed throughout the city in 2010. involving bikes. Washington, DC mosque. At that time he said, Other improvements since the Boston As summer arrives in Boston and more “We came here to build, not to destroy.” That Bike program was launched include the people are outside, I want to remind was then. This is now. In 2010, from his hide- installation of 15 miles of bike lanes with cyclists of the importance of wearing a out in Yemen he now says, “America as a whole another 20 slated for this year, the pub- helmet and observing basic safety pre- has turned into a nation of evil. I eventually lication of the first-ever Boston Bikes cautions. I encourage all drivers, pedes- (Continued on Page 15) map, and the installation of more than trians and cyclists to observe traffic laws 500 bike racks. and be respectful of all sharing the roads. THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PMPM, for the convenience of our East Boston and North Shore clients and contributors Call 617-227-8929 for more information Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, MAY 21, 2010 Richard DiFrummolo’s Memory Lives on in Mexico Stirpe by Prof. Edmund Nostra Turiello A weekly column highlighting some of the more interesting aspects of our ancestry...our lineage...our roots. THE ROMAN BASILICA The Basilica was a com- The Christians were also mercial exchange and a hall charged with starting the of justice. Much of it served fire that burned two thirds of as inspiration for the design Rome in 64 A.D. Because of of courtrooms up to the these events, Nero banned present day. The building Christianity and started the usually was rectangular in persecutions which lasted plan, and usually twice as for two hundred and fifty long as it was wide, with a years. semicircular section at each History claims that in the end which was called the Year 312, the Emperor apse. The floor of the apse Constantine was engaged in Teacher with students. was raised and called the battle at the Milvian Bridge Recently Angelo DiFrummolo, known to dais. This served to elevate in Rome when he had a vi- his friends as Cal, traveled to Mexico to see the tribunal for the judges sion of the cross which ap- the home his son Richard had renovated just and assessors (archons and peared in the bright midday before his death in January 2007. Richard praetors). sky. Along with this vision lived with his parents, Angelo and Emma A balustrade or rail sepa- there appeared a legend Gatto DiFrummolo on Tileston Street, when rated the dais from the main written in Greek, “By this he was attending school and growing up. part of the building. This sign, thou shall conquer.” Angelo was surprised and delighted to see main section contained two His subsequent victory what else Richard had achieved. or sometimes four rows of moved Constantine to even- When Richard moved to San Miguel de columns that ran the entire tually stop the persecutions Allende with his partner Donald Winter, the length of the building. The and adopt Christianity as two men decided that they wanted to help center section was called the the religion of the empire. the children who were living in poverty in nave and the side sections The Christians were then the countryside around the town. An orga- Angelo DiFrummolo and Donald Winter between the columns were permitted to occupy some of nization called Feed the Hungry caught their stand in front of the school.