Working to preserve Italian pride

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It’s almost Columbus Day but you would never know it in certain parts of the country. In many cities, and even whole states, Columbus Day has been replaced with “Native American Day”, or “Discoverer Day” as has happened in Hawaii, Alaska, Oregon and South Dakota. Other states are forced to authorize the holiday although they don’t celebrate it – like Iowa and Nevada. In areas as close as Staten Island, despite its prevalent Italian population, the annual Columbus Day parade will be replaced this year with a “Rome to Richmond Town” festival.

Columbus Day is the one day of the year Italian-Americans have to point to as their own and show their cultural pride. What’s happening to the holiday?

“We’re getting people who are applying 21st century values to 15th century times,” said Louis Gallo, the New York State chairman of the Order of the Sons of Italy and the Commission for Social Justice. Gallo, who is also a retired social studies teacher, said people need to focus on Columbus’ accomplishment, not his persona.

Gallo, who is working with the Per Sempre Lodge in Lynbrook, and others throughout New York State to foster Italian pride, recognizes the dwindling Italian pride and said people need to stop reinforcing Italian stereotypes, “We are victims of our own assimilation,” said Gallo. “If I watch The Godfather or A Bronx Tale, and I repeat it; I imitate it — people are going to believe it as fact. I talk to producers of these stereotypical Italian movies; ‘it’s just a little joke’ they say, but in the aggregate, you’re presenting an image of Italian-Americans that is grossly distorted yet believed.”

To combat it, Gallo says Italians have to focus on the positive contributions of Italian-Americans and bring recognition to those who deserve it. This is especially important during October, which has been recognized as President Obama as National Italian Heritage Month.

One such example is his effort to bring awareness to Luigi Del Bianco, a little-known Italian-American who was the chief stone carver of Mount Rushmore. Although it isn’t in most Mount Rushmore history books, and you won’t find Del Bianco’s name anywhere near Mount Rushmore, Del Bianco was the chief stone carver of the landmark.

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