I expressed an interest in attending “Camp Obama” which will take place this Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven. I did receive a call on Friday, confirming my attendance.
Camp Obama will prepare people to participate in getting out the vote in battleground states. Camp Obama needs as many participants as possible, so feel free to join in this Sunday.
I want to be honest, well, I usually am, in stating that I am really having doubts about this Presidential election. I really am starting to wonder about this country.
Don’t get me wrong, this is my birth country, and I love it to my death and as many of my close friends know, I have done work for our Government.
But, something really strange happened when I traveled to Italy many years ago for the first time–especially Rome–I fell deeply in love with this city.
You see, I AM Italian. One hundred percent. But, because of my feelings towards my parents, I discarded this and chose to be totally “American.” I denied my heritage for so long.
But then, about 25 years ago, I took a history of immigration course at SCSU. I ended up writing a thesis on immigration and also researching my ancestry which DOES go back to Egypt. My maiden name is a derivative of the Latin word “Egyptius” meaning “dark skinned” and also from the Sicilian word for slave.
So, as I posted before, my name means “Dark-Skinned Slave.”
When I went to Italy shortly after that for the first time, I DID STAY for a few years. I learned about myself. I felt “attached” I honestly felt that I did not belong in the United States, that I belonged in Italy. I went back with my spouse in 2006 and you know what, I felt as if I had never left. I love Rome, I love Italy. I mean, look, Italy has PROBLEMS. But its people are proud of themselves and of their heritage and they work hard to preserve it.
I never got over that feeling when I left Rome. I don’t think I ever will. There is something to be said about living where you are from. Being close to your heritage. I really didn’t think that was important, but as I get older, I know it is. I will always be on that journey to find out who the real me is: it is a missing piece of the puzzle that I hope I can “solve” before I die.
Now I did want to comment on this “Code Red” program that Cheshire is implementing. The Town is running an informational video with the Town Manager, Fire Chief and Schools Supt. on Channel 14 something like three times a day.
This is a great idea. People who sign up, and you can do this by going to www.Cheshirect.org, the town of Cheshire’s official website, will be notified by telephone with a pre-recorded message in the event of an emergency i.e., natural disaster or school lockdown.
I don’t know if I went into a coma for a while and just woke up, but I honestly CAN’T believe a town like “I know a secret” Cheshire is doing this!! I will always wonder why Cheshire decided to implement this program at this time, because as most UTH readers know, I and you will never get the real answer.
I had questioned whether we had a lockdown or notification system this past June when that Liberty Bank robbery had taken place on Highland Avenue, not far from Highland School which at the time had a summer school program in session . I don’t know if the school was notified when the bank was robbed.
But “We got there right away” was not a good answer for me when I questioned. ” Remember: “We got there right away “at Sorghum Mill Drive too.
Case closed.
I guess the town government had been looking into this notification system for two years. At least that is what we are being told. Anyways it is a good idea. Cheshire is moving forward and realizing that issues happen that are beyond anyone’s control and it does not make the town look bad if and when they do occur!! It is part of life. Oh I hope the Town Government realizes that when CODE RED is implemented the news media will know about it!!
Peoples property values Big C, are not going to go down, well, they are going down now because of the economy, because a natural disaster, murder or bank robbery happens!! Get over it!! People in this town have a right to know what is going on!! If it gets on the news, so be it. You WILL LIVE Cheshire!!
To my knowledge, there will be a test notification of the CODE RED system on Sept. 29th. Persons that have signed up will get a call from the 866 number. So get ready. I am proud of Cheshire for doing this. FOUR STARS FOR CHESHIRE.
THE CODE RED EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
And now, under Featured Video, Annie Lennox, formerly of the Eurythmics, singing “Why” in Rome, Italy. if you have been to Rome, you will recognize where she is standing. Enjoy!!
