BREAKING NEWS...OBAMA WINS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

Senator Barack Obama has won the 2008 Presidential election. Yes, change has come..Congratulations, but I will say ..now let's get back to business and get America back on track. I look forward to the progress. Tweet

Who Did The Italian-American Vote For In The Presidential Election 2008?

Well, I just got back from voting and have to say it was a good experience. I didn't have to wait nor was there any drama in getting in and out of my voting location. As I stood there at the sign in table I was looking around to see the diverse group of people voting and wondering who they are voting for and what is behind their reasoning for voting for that person.

As Italian-Americans, and children of immigrants, first, second, third generations...this election signifies a time in America where change is needed and exercising your right to vote is going to change the outcome of life here in the United States.

I felt very proud going to vote today and my father was happy to know I went and voted too. A sense of overwhelming American pride came over me because I realized as I spoke to my father, who came to this country for this very right (to exercise a vote), that we are beyond lucky.

As I watch coverage on the media channels, I see a lot of talk about the immigrant vote and the overwhelming surge of Latino votes for Obama. It made me think, did many Ethnic-Americans feel a sense of connection with Obama because of his diverse ethnic background? Its an interesting notion. So, who did you vote for and why? Tomorrow morning, hopefully (if there is no drama) we will have our new President. I look forward to a greater tomorrow here in America. Tweet

Happy Election Eve, Let's Discuss How the Italians Are Gearing Up For the American Election.

Well, after writing and talking about the candidates, the election, the issues and the scandals..here we are on the eve of the 2008 Presidential election. I am truly anxious to see how this turns out, whether its a Democrat or Republican. With the intense economical and military situations occurring within the American government, this election has become and will be one of the most important elections of our time. Not only, are the issues great, but for the first time in history, whether it be Democratic or Republicans, there will either be an African-American President or a woman as the Vice-President. We should be proud that we are in this current moment of history.

In preparing for the elections here in the US, we've already seen high voter surge turnouts in early voting states. This is a clear indication that the American people are ready to make changes. Tomorrow, we will go to our designated voting locations and cast our votes. What will be, will be. I was really quite anxious to know the turnouts in the last two elections, but this time around I will be feverishly checking the statistics online and on CNN. I am truly excited for this final outcome.

In sharing our excitement are the Italians. The Italians know and understand that the outcome of the next elected President is also very relevant to their lives. With foreign policy, military issues, war and the current economic crisis, the outcome of the next elected President will definitely have a huge effect on the European markets and especially in Italy.

With so much excitement brewing here in the states with after parties scheduled for victory on both sides, the Italians have also begun to party plan for their candidate's victory party. For example, the Democrats Abroad have organized a very large result party in Rome. The Americans living abroad have taken a large role in organizing and involving others to participate in this year's election. In an overwhelming show of support, it seems many Italians and many other European citizens have decided that Senator Obama is their candidate of choice. I think its safe to say, whoever becomes President should receive and will receive the support of their fellow Americans. We must remember to keep the cause united and not divided by party. Happy Voting! Tweet

What is the Electoral College and Does My Vote Really Count?

With the past elections of Bush/Gore, and Bush/Kerry, many Americans were left thinking what the hell is an electoral college and why didn't my vote count? If the majority of my state voted Gore or Kerry then why did the Electoral College dictate the outcome of the past elections? When these two scenarios occurred years ago, we were left thinking what just happened, why is Florida a toss up and how did this guy get elected?

With the election looming on us this Tuesday, we are again faced with this realization of rules, votes and an electoral college. I'm no history professor or government guru but I can tell you to better understand the election process its best to do your homework. Getting into the voting booth is good but that's not enough, as Americans we need to know about the electoral college and its major role in this election.

It might not mean anything as far as you personally changing anything, but the bottom line is to vote--no matter what. The process and definitions are far to in depth for a non-expert like me to tell you, so I will suggest you get this site asap and start reading about the voting process and details. You may have been absent that day in school when electoral votes were discussed, then again..I think most of America was absent when this was discussed. Again, education is key. Take a look.

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/faq.html Tweet

Italian American Museum Presents Award Winning TV & Documentary Producer Tony Di Nonno and Presentation of "Antonio Meucci and the Age of Invention."

The Italian American Museum presents the speech and presentation by award winning TV producer and documentary film maker, Tony DiNonno. The film, "Antonio Meucci and the Age of Invention, " reveals the life of Antonio Meucci, the real inventor of the telephone.

The film will be shown on:

November 19, 2008
Wednesday Evening - 7P.M.
Italian American Museum
155 Mulberry St. NY, NY 10019
Limited Seating! Reservations Required!

For more information on the Italian American Museum visit:

http://www.italianamericanmuseum.org/

This event was Sponsored by New York Council for the Humanities, a state-affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Being First Generation Italian-American and Celebrating Halloween.

Happy Halloween. Today is a fun packed day for American kids all over the United States. Trick or treating, candy, costumes, parties, parades...its just fun. I think Halloween has become one of my favorite American holidays, because it gives you an excuse to dress up and just be silly. I remember from a young age trying to explain to my father that kids dress up for school and we have parties in school because of this holiday. He just looking at me and saying, 'OK,' because he didn't know it was important. They were thinking, how could going to school dressed like a punk rocker be good?

Halloween was just something my parents were never really into, especially the part about random kids coming to your door and expecting candy. My parents just thought and still think it's strange. But now that they've been here a lifetime, they've come to accept it and are now into the Halloween antics because of their own grandchildren.

In Italy, Halloween is slowly becoming popular. They really don't celebrate it because its become more of a popularized day here in the states. The closest holiday to Halloween for the Italians is 'carnivale,' which I think is a bit more elaborate. So, the meshing of holidays as a first generation Italian kid was never easy and trying to explain to my parents why wearing a punk rocker costume to school was important. The correlation and trying to relate the cultural differences was always a challenge. Another important story to the building blocks of growing up Italian-American.

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Growing Up Italian-American, Siblings.

In this picture to the left is my brother, Santo and me on the right. Now, I found this picture today and just couldn't believe how funny we were in action all those years ago. I can remember always having the best of times and just hilarious moments because we were after all growing up Italian-American. For some reason, I will say Italians have such strong bonds between siblings that no one can break. We're pretty tight even till this day. The reason why we had so many hilarious moments was because growing up my father was always working and mom was pretty much the disciplinarian, so if anything went down..it was my mom who enforced "ti faccio --Badingbadinga." Now, this word, was like the word, that let you know you were going to catch a slap, pinch, or worse. Yes, worse.

So, today we were talking about the time, when my brother and I were at church with my mother. My mother is church lady, and when its time to pray, you better pray. Of course, this day...Santo and I were in our usual giddy moods. Hitting each other behind my mom as we stood at the pews. Well, we were laughing so hard ( I think because the church was so quiet..so it was just uncontrollable) that my mother grabs both of our wrists from each side and squeezed them so hard to pinching that we were dying of the pain. So, the pain was intense..then of course, which led to us laughing harder. Needless to say...my mother didn't tolerate it. She calmly escorted us out of the church after communion and got us in the car. She turned around in the car and slapped the both us. Well, after that day...we never misbehaved again in church., but till this day my brother and I literally fall of the chair laughing when we talk about this story. Tweet