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VOL. 114 - NO. 46 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, NOVEMBER 12, 2010 $.30 A COPY Do You Remember? ... VETERANS DAY 1948 NOVEMBER 11, 2010 (Photo courtesy of Pat Barrasso) Dante Alighieri Society Hosts Reception for CONSUL GENERAL OF ITALY, BOSTON News Briefs by Sal Giarratani Turner Says He’s No Quitter City Councilor Chuck Turner rallied outside his Roxbury office with about 200 supporters vowing not to quit his City Council post. On Friday, October 29, Turner was convicted in fed- eral court on charges he took a $1,000 bribe in 2007 and later lied about it to federal agents. His sentencing is scheduled for January 25. He is now urging his supporters to write authori- ties to give him probation and he vows not to resign. He thinks he should be allowed to stay in office if he avoids prison time. City Council President Michael Ross will be Consul General of Italy, Boston, Giuseppe Pastorelli among representatives from the requesting a council hearing to consider the Italian community of Boston. removal of Turner, who is currently facing 35 On Sunday, November 7, 2010 the Dante years in prison. Turner has begun to use the Alighieri Society in Cambridge hosted a race card comparing his conviction to the reception to welcome the new Consul oppression of African-Americans in this coun- General of Italy to Boston, Giuseppe try. The councilor whose campaign ads call him, Pastorelli. Italian American organizations “Bold, Bald and Bright” is seemingly now com- gathered to greet Consul Pastorelli, his wife paring his plight to that of Black slaves who Lilla and three month old son, Andrea. Dante “were whipped and lashed and hung.” Alighieri President, Professor Spencer Sadly, City Councilor Charles Yancy showed DiScala welcomed everyone and introduced up at the Turner pep talk and called on the Consul Pastorelli. audience to protect “our leader.” Yancy actually Pastorelli greeted everyone in both Italian compared Turner to W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X and English. He outlined his goals and and Dr. King. Rodney X, a Nation of Islam emphasized the promotion of Italian lan- minister called the conviction a “high-tech guage. He thanked his predecessors and lynching.” Many called the charges he was con- pledged to continue the great work they have victed of as nothing but small-time stuff. done. He asked everyone to work together City Councilor Chuck Turner is by all ac- to keep the Italian community together. He counts a convicted felon. Reportedly, he hasn’t encourages the community to engage in Left to Right: Giuseppe Giangregorio, planned to appeal his conviction. His conviction each other’s activities and keep the same Consul General of Italy, Boston, Giuseppe Pastorelli and Lino Rullo. (Continued on Page 14) goal in mind to promote Italian language and culture. He offered his support and said that (Photos by Rosario Scabin, he will have an “open door” policy. Ross Photography) 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, NOVEMBER 12, 2010 Res Publica by David Trumbull Honor Our Veterans on Armistice Day Do you pause for a moment of silence at the eleventh EXITUS JULIUS CAESAR hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month? I remem- ber, in the 1960s in grade school, we all did so in obser- Rumors spread that Cae- sar to beware of dan- the conspirators gathered vance of Armistice Day, even though the name of the com- sar intended to move to Al- ger, which would occur not around him as though to memoration had been officially changed to Veterans Day exandria, taking with him later than the Ides of March. pay their respects. It was way back in 1954. the resources of the state, The day before the mur- Tillius Cimber who took the Without question, we do right to honor our soldiers, sea- draining Italy by levies and der a little king-bird flew lead and held Caesar’s toga men, airmen, marines, and coast guard with a public holi- leaving his friends in into the Hall of Pompey by both shoulders. Caesar day. But let us not forget the origins of Veterans Day/ charge of the city. It was also with a laurel branch. Other cried, “Why this is violence.” Armistice Day, as remembrance of the end of the “War to announced at a senate birds pursued and tore the Just then one of the elder End All Wars.” Twenty years later, Massachusetts shoe meeting that because the branch into small pieces. conspirators stabbed him laster James Hughes described the scene in Boston on Parthians could only be con- That same evening Julius below the throat. He tried to November 11, 1918: quered by a king, Caesar dreamed that he was flying rise but was wounded again, There was a lot of excitement when we heard about the was to be given that title. in the clouds. His wife also and then saw that he was Armistice … some of them old fellas was walkin’ on the Splinter groups of conspira- dreamed that Caesar was surrounded on all sides by streets with open Bibles in their hands. All the shops were tors now united into a gen- stabbed while in her arms. drawn daggers. He dropped shut down. I never seen the people so crazy … confetti was eral conspiracy of at least For these reasons and also to the floor after receiving a-flying in all directions…I’ll never forget it. sixty persons. This con- because of poor health he twenty three wounds. He In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed Novem- spiracy, which included decided to stay home on that uttered not a word except a ber 11th as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. In Brutus and Cassius, was fateful day but was urged by groan at the first wound, al- 1926 Congress officially encouraged the observance of the also brought about because Brutus not to disappoint the though some have written day throughout the nation, but in was not until 1938 that of jealousy, personal hatred, senate, which had been that when he saw Marcus Armistice Day became a legal federal holiday. and a patriotic desire to re- waiting for him. On the way Brutus he said in Greek, In 1954, November 11th became a day to honor Ameri- turn to the constitution of to the meeting a note was “You too, my child.” It was can veterans of all wars and President Dwight D. Eisenhower the republic. handed to him revealing reported that of the twenty issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation. Subsequent Many signs foretold the the plot and he held it in three wounds, the second Presidents have continued the practice of issuing such approaching murder of Cae- his hand with other notes, one in the breast was the proclamations. sar. A bronze tablet with intending to read them after only mortal one. By the way, Veterans Day is always on November 11th, Greek inscription was found he took his seat. As he All of the conspirators which this year is a Thursday. In 1968 the Uniform Holiday in an ancient tomb and entered the Senate House immediately fled and Caesar Bill removed several federal holidays from their traditional interpreted to have predicted he laughed at the sooth- lay there lifeless for some dates, placing them on Mondays in order to create three- Caesar’s murder at the sayer Spurinna, calling him time, until three slaves ar- day weekends. But many were not pleased with this tink- hands of his kindred a false prophet and saying rived to put him on a litter ering with Veterans Day and in 1975 President Gerald R. and then avenged at heavy that the Ides of March had and carry him home, with Ford signed the law which returned the annual observance cost to Italy. Herds of come without bringing him one arm hanging down. “Et of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11th, Caesar’s horses refused to harm. Spurinna replied, “Yes tu, Brute” or “You too, my beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of graze and were said to have they had indeed come but child,” that is the question. the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major shed many tears. The sooth- they have not yet gone.” NEXT ISSUE: veterans service organizations and the American people. sayer Spurinna warned Cae- As he took his seat Julius Caesar, post mortem For more information on the celebration of Veterans Day, see http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/. Frog Pond Opening Celebration God Bless the United States of America! Boston Parks Commis- The show stars 2006 Olym- the Boston Bruin’s Ice sioner Antonia M. Pollak and pian and US National Silver Girls, representatives from The Skating Club of Boston Medalist Emily Hughes, the Boston Blazers, the President Joseph Blount will 2010 Miss Massachusetts Boston Blazers SPARKS host this year’s official open- and 2004 US National Ice Dance Girls, characters ing of the Boston Common Dancing Bronze Medalist from Boston Ballet’s The Frog Pond on Thursday, No- Loren Galler-Rabinowitz of Nutcracker, and characters vember 18, at 5:30 p.m. The Boston, 2009 US National from “The Life and Adven- evening’s Master of Ceremo- Junior Men’s Champion and tures of Nicholas Nickleby.” nies will be Dan Weinstein, Junior World Series Bronze Cabot Creamery, Disney’s 1998 and 2002 Olympic Medalist Ross Miner of “Tangled” and “The Search Speed Skater and National Watertown, MA, 2010 US for Santa Paws,” Mix 104.1 Short Track Speed Skating National Junior Ladies Sil- FM radio, and the event’s ra- Champion, who has served ver Medalist and 3-Time In- dio sponsor, Vitamin Water as an NBC Olympic Com- ternational Silver Medalist Zero, will all be on site with mentator for speed skating Yasmin Siraj of Brookline, fun prizes and giveaways events.