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VOL. 119 - NO. 12 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, MARCH 20, 2015 $.35 A COPY St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2015 (Photos by Sal Giarratani) News Briefs DREAMS OF FREEDOM: by Sal Giarratani Boston’s Immigrant Experience Re-Imagined and Revitalized Skywalk Observatory Celebrates The NY Times Thinks its Objective, Grand Re-opening of Boston’s Only Educational Immigration Experience I Think the Word is Objectionable Recently, a NY Times headline stated “Lack of Diversity Persists in Admissions to Elite City Schools.” Listen to this. Entering classes in 8 elite schools will be 52 percent Asian, 28 percent white, 7 percent Latino and 5 percent black. The Times suggest this represents a “lack of diversity.” As NY Post columnist Michael Goodwin opines “only if you don’t count Asians as a minority. MINORITY has come to be a synonym for blacks and Hispanics, and since Asians succeed wildly out of proportion to their numbers — they are about 15 percent of the school population — they are no longer considered a MINORITY or included in “DIVERSITY counts.” Shocking News A recent poll showed a record low 43 percent With a history of serving time, offering interactive founded by people who sought consider President Obama to be honest. That num- residents and visitors alike, multimedia exhibits that a new life, free of the inequi- ber has to be incorrect. How could that many people Skywalk Observatory is cel- bring to life the unified ex- ties and disappointments of still think Obama is Honest Abe? ebrating the Grand Re-Open- perience of the thousands of the old world. The Puritan Dunkin’ Donuts ing of the fully re-imagined immigrants who have made settlers hoped to create a city Removing Titanium from Racks and revitalized immigration Boston their home for more that would be a beacon to the exhibition, Dreams of Free- than 400 years. The city’s world, and it has been. For Dunkin’ Donuts recently announced it would be dom: Boston’s Immigrant only educational experi- centuries, immigrants have changing its powdered donut recipe. It will no longer Experience. Located on the ence dedicated to Boston’s traveled from all over the add titanium dioxide to whiten those delicious 50th Floor of The Prudential rich history of immigration, world to build new lives. They babies. This news followed an environmental group Tower, 800 Boylston Street, the exhibits have been com- journeyed far, built commu- who said that an independent lab test showed the Boston, MA. The Skywalk is pletely re-imagined and re- nities, became citizens and substance in the white powdered sugar used to New England’s tallest obser- furbished under the direction left their mark on Boston.” make the donuts is also used to make sunscreen. vatory and Boston’s ONLY of Dr. Westy A. Egmont, Ex- Dreams of Freedom is both Who knew that a donut could help someone get a sky-high vantage point. hibit Curator. Dr. Egmont is their story and everyone’s nice safe tan, eh? A glance at the headlines Associate Professor, Boston story. Ultimately, this is a No More Circus Elephants shows the debate over immi- College School of Social Work story of commonality. The news is out, Barnum & Bailey Ringling Bros. gration is as timely a topic and Director of the BCSSW As a melting pot of the Circus will only be using elephants until 2018 today as it was hundreds of Immigrant Integration Lab. world’s communities, Boston (Continued on Page 13) years ago. As noted at the entrance to has a tradition of inclusion Dreams of Freedom serves the exhibition area, “Boston, as a virtual passport through ‘the city on the hill,’ was (Continued on Page 9) Page 2 POST-GAZETTE, MARCH 20, 2015 Res Publica by David Trumbull Return to Sender Feeling lonesome, forgotten? Just once give money to a VENUS political cause, or subscribe to a magazine with an ideo- Last week’s column high- famous artist from the past logical bent and you’ll never again want for mail to read. lighted Aphrodite, the Greek who didn’t take a turn in pre- Months go by with no letters from my family. Friends never goddess of love. This week senting his own version of write. But everyday my box overflows with appeals to become your attention is directed to this queen of beauties, ac- a “charter member,” respond to an important “survey,” or Venus, the Roman counter- cording to some particular learn that “help is here!” And that’s just from the enve- part. Prior to her identifica- story or legend that he lopes of recent political mailings. tion with Aphrodite, Venus wished to portray. Her most Envelopes — large, small, brown, white, colored, self- was the goddess of gardens celebrated statue, of course, mailers — when it comes to messages, political mail houses and spring, one of the least just has to be the “Aphrodite know how to stuff it. Only amateur outfits use plain white important of the Roman dei- of Melos” or as it is more number ten envelopes. The big boys of the fundraising ties. She was also wor- popularly known, “Venus de racket have graduated to oversized six-by-nine inch enve- shipped as “Calva” (The bald), Milo”. It was found on Melos, lopes — or even bigger, up to a foot long. a cult which was started the most westerly island of about 625 B.C. by Ancus the Cyclades, in the Aegean For Official Use Only Marcius, the third Sabine Sea, The island became an “Postmaster: Deliver to Addressee Only,” says the large king of regal Rome, because Athenian colony sometime print on the package. Now that begs the question, “What his wife was losing her hair. around 400 B.C., however, does the postmaster usually do? Hand my mail out to random Some historians attributed there appears to be no infor- strangers? Each piece bears all the marks of official corre- the name Calva to the fact mation about the master- spondence, entrusted to the care of the U.S. Postal Service that on her wedding day, piece, other than the fact of (even if only at the reduced bulk rate), expedited for my each Roman bride cut off a being found among some ru- immediate action. lock of her hair and sacri- ins, in the year 1820. It was Do I agree that “students should be sent home from school ficed it to Venus. “Paetus” purchased by the Marquis for saying grace silently over lunch?” asks a conservative was another name often deRiviere, who presented it religious group’s “official survey.” Surely the tally on that used in Rome. It identified to Louis XVII and it now question will be close. The Republicans want to know if I a person who squinted in stands in the Louvre. think that “Tax cuts that benefit all Americans, not just one eye. The Latin expres- Another well known statue the Democrats’ special interests” are important. I bet sion was “Venus paeta” (Ve- of this goddess is the “Medici congressional Republicans are even now waiting for my nus-eyed), because it was Venus.” For those who are answer. Then again, given some of their cave-ins on tax regarded as an added dimen- Bronze figurine of Venus, not familiar with the Medici cuts, maybe they think there actually is a Republican con- sion to one’s beauty. Lyon (Roman Lugdunum) family, please let me add stituency for tax cuts for Democrats’ special interests. In later years, the worship that the family greatness Once, I answered a questionnaire as if the sender actu- of Venus became more called Venus Genetrix started with Cosimo de ally wanted my answers. The organization, National Right th closely associated with that (Venus the Mother), because Medici in the 15 century. to Work Committee, lobbies for issues — mainly the right of Aphrodite, consequently, he claimed that, as mother He was known as “The to choose one’s own associates — which I support. Still, it new dimensions were added. of Aeneas, she was the Great Merchant of Florence” is not a group that I choose to join. To the survey question During the third or second ancestor and guardian of the who spent his immense “do you consider yourself a member of the NRWC?” I century B.C. the worship of entire Roman race. wealth liberally for the ad- responded “No,” and wrote in that I would, nevertheless, Venus Erycina was intro- Aphrodite and Venus were vancement of art and sci- like to receive their newsletter. I also enclosed, to help pay duced from Sicily’s Mt. Eryx. worshipped as one and the ence. About fifty years later, for mailing the newsletter, a small contribution, well below A temple in her honor as same more often than any Lorenzo di Medici became the indicated membership fee. Back comes a form letter Venus Verticordia (from the other deity in mythology. the greatest patron of litera- thanking me for renewing my membership. Enclosed was Latin vertex or vortex), the Also, more often than not, ture and art that any prince a membership card. goddess who turns the hearts the location of a statue or had ever been, with a collec- Gold cards, cards in every hue, all made to look like credit of men, was built in Rome painting of this goddess de- tion of sculptures, paintings, cards, complete with card numbers and expiration dates — after a Vestal Virgin was termined whether she was drawings, and carved gems, I gotta slew of ‘em. Over a three-year period I received killed by lightning. Even called Aphrodite or Venus. available to all artists and nearly 50 of these cards from the Republican National Julius Caesar caused the Here again, as in the case Committee, the Massachusetts Republican Party, The Heri- construction of a temple of Apollo, there is hardly a (Continued on Page 7) tage Foundation, and several other organizations, most of which I have not given money to.

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