VOL. 115 - NO. 49 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, DECEMBER 9, 2011 $.30 A COPY Boston Common Tree Lighting Buon Natale NORTH END ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION presents the 41st Annual 2011 NORTH END CHRISTMAS PARADE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2011 - 1:00 P.M. Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Santa Claus lead the countdown to the 70th Merry Christmas annual lighting of the Christmas tree on Boston Common with the help of Channel SEE SANTA CLAUS ARRIVE AT NORTH END PARK 5’s JC Monahan and Nova Scotia’s Deputy BY HELICOPTER AT 1:00 P.M. In case of bad weather, Parade will be held the next Sunday, December 18th Premier Frank Corbett. The lighting IN ASSOCIATION WITH capped a night of entertainment including The Nazzaro Center • North End Against Drugs Joey McIntyre, American Idol’s Siobhan Mayor’s Offi ce of Arts, Tourism and Special Events Magnus, Rockapella, The Radio City Merry Christmas Rockettes, Boston Ballet, Grace Kelly (renowned saxaphoist), Boston Children’s Chorus, hosted by Mayor Menino, the Boston Parks and Recreation Department, title sponsor the Province of Nova Scotia, News Briefs supporting sponsors the Boston Pops, Distrigas/GDF SUEZ, and JetBlue, and by Sal Giarratani media sponsors WCVB-TV Channel 5, MAGIC 106.7 FM, the Boston Globe, and Next Year Could Be a Good One the Boston Herald. for Bay State GOP Just after listening to Joe Malone and the (Photos by Rosario Scabin, Boston Herald’s Holly Robichaud filling in for the Ross Photography) vacationing Jeff Katz on Talk 1200 Boston, I got to thinking about how good both Malone and Robichaud were on this radio show about next Annual Christmas Concert 2011 year’s congressional races here in Massachu- setts. I think Massachusetts Republicans have by Bennett Molinari and Richard Molinari a good chance of being competitive and actually winning several House seats hereabouts. With a new 9th district along the southern coast and the Cape, Joe Malone might consider taking on US Rep. Bill Keatings who will be moving into the new House district to run for re-election down there. Meanwhile, former state Senator Richard Teisi, (R)-Wakefield is running against US Rep. John Tierney up on the North Shore. Then, there’s the news that US Rep. Barney Frank is getting a geography change and losing liberal areas for more conservative southeast cities and towns down in and around the Attleboro area once represented by US Speaker of the House Joe Martin. A strong Republican candi- date down there might have a good chance might fare surprisingly well. Barney Frank Calls It Quits News that US Rep. Barney Frank is calling it quits after 32 years is good news to most of us. He saw what happened in 2010 when an unknown (Photos by Rosario Scabin, Ross Photography) Republican opponent made him work extra The older we become, the themselves, often on an and well-being. We come to hard to get his 54 percent to the other guy’s 43 more tradition becomes a annual basis; they help look forward to annual gath- (Continued on Page 15) part of our lives. In the most establish continuity and the erings, ceremonies and imperceptible way, events rhythm of our lives estab- slip into our lives that repeat lishing a sense of comfort (Continued on Page 3) THE POST-GAZETTE SATELLITE OFFICE IS NOW OPEN AT 35 BENNINGTON STREET, EAST BOSTON This office is open on 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, DECEMBER 9, 2011 Res Publica by David Trumbull Reserved to the States Respectively, or to the People MARCUS AURELIUS December 15th is Bill of arrangement of the national History tells us that there mother’s intervention at this Rome. We are told that he Rights Day in the Common- or central government of were at least eight illustri- time caused him to consent enjoyed brilliant success in wealth of Massachusetts, set the States within the Union ous Romans named Marcus to sleeping on a couch as this position. aside to memorialize the and that an enumeration of Antonius. One of them was long as it was covered with Marcus was not one to be entering into force, following citizens’ rights was unnec- the famous Roman that we animal skins. concerned about amassing a adoption by three-fourths of essary as it was the People all know as Marc Antony, Marcus received instruc- great fortune. He was, how- the states on December 15, making the Constitution and however, none of them should tion from some of the most ever, the heir to great sums 1791, of the first ten amend- therefore the People retained be confused with the six- popular proponents and fore- of money from both his ments to the U.S. Constitu- all rights and powers not spe- teenth emperor of the runners of the Stoic system. grandfather and his father. tion, commonly called the cifically granted the national Roman Empire who finally This is the philosophy that An interesting comment on Bill of Rights. Incidentally, government. Alexander Ham- took the name of Marcus taught the principles of his compassion for others Massachusetts was not one ilton made this argument in Aurelius Antoninus. This stern or rigid moral conduct tells of his mother request- of the ratifying states and Federalist No. 84. Marcus was born in Rome on in accordance with the laws ing that he give a part of only passed the amend- The compromise, which April 26, 121 A.D. into an old of nature, but all controlled the inheritance from his ments in a symbolic gesture was finally enacted, satis- Roman family that traced its by virtue. His emotion for father’s estate to his sister. in 1939 at the 150th anni- fied both by setting forth origin back to Numa Pompi- this school of philosophy was He replied that he was con- versary of the Bill of Rights. eight sets of specific rights lius, one of the legendary so intense that he continued tent with the fortune from At the time it was pro- of the people that the kings of early Rome. At birth with his instruction even his grandfather, and then posed, the concept of a Bill national government (and this emperor was named after he was adopted into the gave all of his father's for- of Rights — not to mention later, by incorporation under Marcus Catilus Severus. imperial family. Later, as tune to his sister. He also the specifics of what would the 14th Amendment, the Emperor Hadrian called him emperor, he conferred great suggested that his mother be in it — was controversial. States) is bound to respect. Annius Verissimus during honors on his teachers, had leave all of her own estate Some argued against the Those amendments are his early youth, and later gold statues of them pre- to the sister so that she Constitution itself as defec- followed by the Ninth clari- when he assumed (the “toga pared for his chapel, and would not have less money tive due to lack of an enu- fying that every American virilis” the white toga, a even made personal visits than her husband. meration of the rights of citizen has all the tradi- symbol of manhood) he was and offerings at their tombs. Shortly after the death the People. Even as English tional rights of a free per- called Annius Verus. His Marcus also became inter- of Aelius Verus Caesar, colonists subject to the son whether or not specifi- elementary education was ested in the study of rheto- Hadrian’s first heir, that Crown they had enjoyed, or cally listed in amendments entrusted to instructors who ric and of law; devoting emperor started looking at least claimed, the tradi- one through eight. Then the possessed advance philo- so much time to his legal around for a successor to the tional rights of Englishmen, Tenth Amendment makes sophical sensitivity, how- studies that he impaired his throne. Marcus was not con- including those set forth clear (although somehow ever, he was also well- health. sidered suitable because of in the 1689 English Bill of not so clear to some of the schooled in Greek and Latin During his early years, his youth (eighteen years of Rights and earlier docu- Democrats and liberals in literature, drama, geometry, Marcus remained under the age), therefore Antoninus ments going back to Magna Washington today) that the and oratory. During his early protective eye of Hadrian, Pius was chosen, but with the Carta of 1215. Surely as the national government has youth, philosophy became and at the age of six, was stipulation that Pius adopt free citizens of a republic only those powers specifi- his major interest and he honored with enrollment in Marcus, and that Marcus in they ought to enjoy such an cally granted by the People pursued these studies with the equestrian order. At turn adopt Lucius Commo- enumeration of rights. through the Constitution, great enthusiasm. In his the age of fifteen, and at dus. When told of his adop- Others argued that the with all other powers pre-teen years, Marcus cop- Hadrian’s wish, he was be- tion, Marcus was shocked, Constitution was intended reserved to the States or to ied the coarse dress of trothed to the emperor's and explained to those to provide only for the the People. the Greek philosophers, and granddaughter. Shortly after who questioned him that sov- when he became a teenager that time, he was appointed ereignty walked hand-in- he adopted their habit of to the office of prefect (chief hand with wickedness.