Why Columbus Day

In honor of Columbus Day, we should explore some the reasons we honor this day.

The Knights of Columbus

The  Knights of Columbus was founded on March 29, 1882 by Blessed Father Michael J. McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, to provide financial aid for Catholic families and unite men against anti-Catholic prejudice of the time.

Father Michael J. McGivney: A 29-year-old assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Connecticut, who gathered a small group of Catholic men on October 2, 1881, to establish the mutual benefit society.
Christopher Columbus: Chosen as the organization's patron to emphasize that Catholics were not only part of American society, but also instrumental in its historical foundation.
Core Principles: Formed with the founding principles of charity and unity, with fraternity added in 1885 and patriotism added in 1900.
Early Expansion: Grew rapidly across New England and expanded internationally to Canada by 1897.

Official Reasons for the Holiday

We celebrate Columbus Day to commemorate Christopher Columbus' landing in the Americas on October 12, 1492, while also serving as a celebration of Italian-American heritage and a point of deep historical controversy. 

Historical Anniversary: It marks the 1492 voyage of Christopher Columbus arriving in the Bahamas and establishing early European contact.
Italian-American Pride: 
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, Italian-American communities, facing intense discrimination, embraced Columbus (who was from Genoa, Italy) as a symbol of cultural pride and contribution to the United States.
 
Federal Recognition: President Benjamin Harrison first promoted a national observance in 1892, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it an annual federal holiday in 1937.

The Controversy and Shift 

• Legacy of Colonization: Critics and Indigenous activists point out that Columbus's arrival triggered centuries of forced labor, enslavement, displacement, and deadly diseases that devastated Native populations. 

Alternative Observances: Many US states, cities, and institutions have replaced or paired the day with Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor Native American history and culture instead.

For me, as a Patriotic American Fourth Degree Knight, as an Irish Catholic and as a proud Sicilian-Italian-American, I will always celebrate this day as Columbus Day. 

I realize that certain atrocities happened hundreds of years ago, but I also will not submit the sins of the past to presentism. Instead, we should recognize that they happened and learn from them.

That is a huge lesson which should be taught concerning Christopher Columbus. And why it is an important day in America.

Cheering For a Cinderella Team

It is do-or-die for this year’s Cinderella team, the Chicago White Sox. They need to beat the Cleveland Guardians tonight in this year’s ALDS. Or they can join the Yankees, the Braves and the Padres on the couch to watch the Finalists vie for the ticket to the World Series.

The Dodgers, the Brewers and the Rays will be attending their respective Championship Series to go on to the Big Show. It behooves the Sox to make a point, considering how awful they were just two years ago.

It would be fun to watch the White Sox pummel the mighty Rays, especially since they humiliated the Yankees in three straight, As a Mets fan, I was shocked how quickly the Yankees were sent to the showers. 

And of course, the Dodgers once again, made mince meat of their opponent, this time the Braves. It seems the Dodgers are regularly in the post-season, something they rarely did when they played in Brooklyn.

As a baseball fan, I can sympathize with the White Sox fan. Much like the Mets play to the Yankees in New York, the Sox seem to play second fiddle to the Cubs In Chicago. Even the Bulls, the Bears and the Black Hawks seem to get better coverage in the Tribune and Sun-Times.

So, to paraphrase my team’s long-held  chant to help motivate the enthusiasm felt by Mets fans, I want to be the first to say, Let’s Go Sox!

Baseball In October

The White Sox are on the precipice to be in the ALCS, should they continue their drive to win the ALDS. This is a team which captured the all-time loss record of 121 losses, previously held by the New York Mets with 120 since 1962.

That is quite a turn-around!

At the point this is written, Chicago beat Cleveland and the White Sox go home to try to win the series in front of Chicago’s home crowd. They are a passionate fan base, which has waited for twenty-one years to get this chance to reach the ALCS.

They have won their division or won the wild card, and  made it to the Division series several times since then but but not to the ALCS since 2005.

This would be a Cinderella miracle if they win the ALCS, considering only two years were removed from their disastrous season. 

They were the third place wild card team, which beat Houston, the Western Division Champs in two games, and have beaten the Guardians, the Central Division Champs two games to none. They have won four straight thus far with no losses.

If the White Sox’ luck holds out, they will cash in their ticket to the League Championship Series against either the Rays or the Yankees on Monday, October 12. Both teams are power houses and will be tough to beat.

But, we have seen this play out before, since the playoffs have been expanded. So, it would not be a complete surprise if the White Sox moved on.

That’s why it is a whole new season where all teams start even and any team can hit the lightening in that  magical bottle. With the champagne  on ice to pour.

So, good luck to the White Sox as they try to win the Division Series and make it through the LCS.

A Close Call to Another Disaster

​The disaster which was averted yesterday in the skies over the Middle East, when the landing of a 737 MAX jetliner was safe and sound in Saudi Arabia, and was truly a miracle. 174 souls on the plane and countless more on the ground could have lost their lives when a deranged co-pilot tried to hijack the plane and crash it.

Whether you support Israel’s politics or not, one must recognize the inhumanity it took to use innocent civilians, many from other countries, as sacrificial lambs to attempt such a heinous crime.

When he was asked if Iran was behind the attempted hijacking, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chose to  take a diplomatic “wait and see” response to the question. But he also indicated that investigations were ongoing. 

He gave praise to the stabbed pilot, who had the wherewithal to unlock the cockpit door, to allow off duty pilots and other crew members to overcome the hijacker and prevent the plane from crashing. He credited the Saudi government for arresting the perpetrator and initiating an investigation.

The passengers and crew were flown from Saudi Arabia to Tel Aviv later in the day. The pilot is now in stable condition after surgery.

Both Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi confirmed the identity of the flight's pilot as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, praising him as a hero. 

The copilot, whose identity officials have not yet released, has been identified as an Omani national.

Today, we can be give thanks that we are not mourning a what could have been another successful anti-Semitic  attack against innocents who boarded a plane to get home to their loved ones. Thank God. Amen.

Welcome To Hallothanksmas

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We are marking time. Can you believe 2026 is now 3/4 complete as of midnight tonight? And that the 2026 Hurricane Season is beginning the last trimester for the year?

As of tomorrow, we will officially begin the 2026 Hallothanksmas season. Break out your Halloween candy, pumpkin pie and pfeffernusse cookies and begin the festivities.

People have already begun decorating their windows, doors and lawns with some of the scariest and creepiest ideas imaginable, with skeletons, carved pumpkins and ghosts to frighten all of us.

The month will culminate with trick or treaters ringing our doors, with fun and creative costumes to entertain us. And the overnight of that Saturday will require us to gain an hour of sleep by setting our clocks back one hour.

Two days after we see the sun set earlier than the night before, we will finally vote in the midterms, which we have heard about ad nauseum for two years.

Then, we begin shopping and preparing for the annual glutton-fest, otherwise known as Thanksgiving. Get your chestnuts ready for roasting, watch a parade or two and a weekend of football!

The weekend of football isn’t even finished;  and you need to decorate your home with a tree (or two), max out your utility budget with the brightest lights and play the most festive music until you can’t stand it anymore.

That’s what Hallothanksmas is, Charley Brown. A three-month Roman party with all the trimmings. And to cap it all off, we will end it with a night  of food,  marathon TV shows  and rambunctious partying.

Or fall asleep by 8 PM on New Year’ Eve, pooped out by all the gaiety and glee from the past ninety-two days.

And when we groggily wake up on Saturday, January 1, 2027, we just might make resolutions to do a better job for the next year. Yeah, right!

Election Day Is Upon Us Again

​It is exactly five weeks or thirty-five days until we vote and count the results of the 2026 mid-term elections. Some states, including Maine and Minnesota, have already begun Early Voting.

Most other states will begin Early Voting on October 19, although a few will start earlier. Mail-balloting has begun in virtually all states, but most only allow this process for military personnel, disability, or for voters planning to be out of the country on either on business or pleasure.

Several states will see a rise in socialist-identifying candidates, given the recent success of Mamdani in New York, the continued success of Senator Sanders, and Representatives Tlaib and Ocascio-Cortes. 

This year, the most prominent was Abdul El-Sayed, who won the Democratic nomination for Senate in Michigan. Currently, DSA candidate Nithya Raman is leading incumbent Karen Bass to become the next Mayor of Los Angeles. And there are other important races, as well.

This is expected to be another close race for both the House and the Senate. “Experts” from both parties are predicting their party will win control of the Congress. We will see whose experts were correct on November 4.

The last two years of President Trump’s term will be affected by the outcome. If the Republicans win, the road will be somewhat easier. But if the Democrats win both Houses of Congress, they will stall his agenda, making him a truly “lame duck” President. 

It is up to all of us to make certain we get out and vote. It is our right as free Americans to exercise our right, but it is also our responsibility, to honor those who protected this right for all of us.

And if you choose not to vote, you really don’t deserve to criticize the actions of those who were elected because of your failure to take a few minutes out of your life, especially since there are many options, days and times to vote besides the calendar date of November 3. Otherwise, please have a seat and be quiet.

Take the time to find out and educate yourself on the candidates vying for election. Then, make a decision and go vote. See you out there at the polls.

Fall Thoughts of Another Year

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We are now into the first weekend of Fall and we are experiencing somewhat of a weather anomaly. We are enjoying a sunny, cool (by Florida standards) morning in central Florida, while Long Island and New England are getting walloped by a strange hurricane-type nor’easter, not seen since Sandy.

Very strange and truly unexpected. Some may blame “climate change”, but it is truly the cycle of El Niño, which has existed forever.

Anyway, it is Fall and we are enjoying the merciful end of a baseball season, and a promising season of football for this Mets and Jets fan. Yes, loyal and long-suffering for decades. But at least, not a Cowboys fan.

The playoffs begin next week, culminating in the World Series at the end of October. And some of us will be watching grass grow and leaves fall, while listening to the wind blow.

Then some will be gearing up for basketball and hockey. or the Australian Open. 

We are getting ready for apple cider and pumpkin picking, and maybe one last barbecue before it gets too cold to stand around outside. And baking a pumpkin pie or two.

And suddenly, early voting will begin across the country, as we finally see what the results will be on November 3rd. Whether your candidate wins or loses, we can all celebrate our most basic freedom which is to freely vote for the person of our choice. 

Many people do not get that right. Instead, the rulers are chosen for them by a select few, and they have to accept it.

But I digress.

It is time to take in a pleasant time of the year, when we can bear witness to God’s artistry with leaves turning all sorts of magnificent colors across our great land and enjoy the early autumn nights of campfires and fire pits, telling ghost stories, eating our s’mores and other Fall treats.

As the nights get dark earlier and colder, we will look back at this time of the year and reminisce what a special weekend this actually was. Just another weekend in the book of life.

Psst… Something is Coming

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As you have seen, in stores and on social media, in case you weren’t paying attention, there are only 93 days until Christmas Eve. And we are well into the marketing holiday of Hallothanksmas.

Big box stores are pushing out holiday decorations, as fast as they are received each night and set up on the shelves for sale. In addition, there are reminders everywhere for the latest children’s toys, the newest electronics, and great ideas to get Mom or Dad.

We have already indulged in the annual drink beverage of Pumpkin Spice Lattes to get into the holiday and Fall Spirit. Soon enough, we will be treated to Pecan Crunch and Banana Bread Lattes, followed by Peppermint Mocha, Sugar Cookie, Eggnog and Winter Spice Lattes and coffees.

Then we have already seen the appearance of Banana Nut Bread, apple and pumpkin pies, candy corn and candy apples. Could cranberry loaf and Italian fig cookies be far behind?

In between, we will bear witness to Halloween, Election Day, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, along with  another clock change and the Winter Solstice. And without another blink of an eye, Christmas will be upon us.

In fact, right after Halloween, the air will be filled with the music of Christmas, too. 

So, it is time to surrender to the spin of every corporate marketing department and get into the festivities. Or, invent your own like Frank Costanza did; you know, A Festivus For the Rest of Us.

It will be a Joy to the World, all you boys and girls.

Home Alone - A Different Perspective

Thirty-six years ago, Home Alone was released, giving us yet another Christmas movie to watch during the most festive time of the year. 

Home Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes. The first film in the Home Alone franchise, the film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who defends his suburban Chicago home from a home invasion by a pair of robbers after his family accidentally leaves him behind on their Christmas vacation to Paris. The cast also features Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, and Catherine O'Hara. 

Since most Americans have seen and know the story, this isn’t about  the overall premise of the movie. Instead, there was a different, more subtle interpretation which needs to be shared.

Some have implied it is a Christian story, or even a Catholic one. But to a keen observer, one would see the spiritual significance, no matter which faith you practice. It contains those spiritual elements we all believe which centers on Grace, Forgiveness and Redemption. 

Old Man Marley as a Christ/Type Figure: The neighbor Old Man Marley is initially feared and misunderstood, mirroring how Christ was rejected. His bandaged, injured hand visually echoes the pierced wounds of the crucifixion. He acts as a savior figure by rescuing Kevin from the burglars when Kevin cannot save himself.

The Church and Choir Scene: Kevin is drawn into a glowing church while a choir sings "O Holy Night," highlighting themes of divine presence, repentance, and spiritual turning points.

The Shepherd at the Manger: While hiding from the criminals, Kevin disguises himself or positions himself near the outdoor Nativity crèche, acting as a shepherd.

From Isolation to Reconciliation: The narrative mirrors a spiritual journey from fear to trust, and from loneliness to communion. Marley's estrangement and eventual reconciliation with his own son symbolize divine redemption and the healing of broken family bonds.

When you start to view the movie in these terms, the message is not only about the Christmas story. It follows in a similar tradition  like Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life,  A Christmas Carol and One Magic Christmas, and so many others.

While some others may have humor-laced storylines like Home Alone, such as Home Alone II, Elf or Christmas Vacation, none contain such spiritual messaging as Home Alone.

The next time you view this movie, look at it from the spiritual side presented, rather than just another funny Christmas movie.

And Seasons Change Again

​Yes, Friends. It is the last full summer weekend of 2026, thankfully finally, FINALLY with temps in the 80s. 

All summer long, since May, we had a steady diet of mid to high 90s, followed by a late afternoon or evening thunderstorm. But the humidity was unbearable.

But our saving grace was two-fold: air conditioning and no tropical storms of any kind. Truly a blessing.

This Tuesday, at 8:04 PM, we will cross over to Autumn, with the equinox. Wednesday will bring our first full day of Fall. 

By the looks of all the stores, we are well into Hallothanksmas 2026, with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas and Hanukkah decorations on full display. 

Just a note, Halloween is Saturday, October 31, Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26, Hanukkah arrives the evening of December 4, and Christmas is a four day weekend, beginning on Thursday, Christmas Eve.

And there are about 102 days until 2027.

So much to do, and so little time to do it all. Yet, every year, we manage to get it all done, right?

It is time to begin revving up your engines and start getting into the spirit of the holiday of Hallothanksmas. Or soon enough, it may just pass you by.

Time to Deck the Halls, ring the Jingle Bells, and get ready for everyone’s favorite time of the year.

 

Another Promise Broken

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There are now only nine games left in the Mets’ schedule. And the end cannot come fast enough.

Since returning from Miami, where they won three straight, they managed one win since then. The embarrassing showing against the return of their superstar, Pete Alonso, in a Baltimore Orioles uniform, was pitiful, at best.

Especially when Alonso performed his magic by tying the game in the ninth with his 300th career homer. How fitting!

And then, he received a curtain call from the Mets faithful, rubbing $#!+ in the face of David Stearns for brilliantly letting him walk last off-season.

So. The best they can do (but won’t) is win seventy eight games. With a payroll north of $350MM. And another disappointing year since the Wipons sold the team to Uncle Steve. 

Now, we get to lament the old Brooklyn Dodgers end of season cry of “Wait til next year!”

Let’s Go Mets!

You Still Light Up Our Lives

​It has been three years since our beloved Sister, Kathy, died unexpectedly. She was a soft-hearted, kind woman. But as with all Sicilian women, she was a rock who was more solid than we believed.

She also had an Irish side in her which  would defend against anyone who would attack her loved ones.

Some, including my brother Tim, considered her like Switzerland, a person who would remain neutral at any cost. But I saw her differently; she would walk away from conflict rather than dive into a fight without considering all possible outcomes.

She gave us as a family, new and different perspectives to become better people than we were. She always offered sage advice, even if we didn’t ask. But she was not insulted when we would choose a different path.

She was smart that way, and didn’t become a person who would rub our noses in our failures because we may have chosen our own way. Instead, she would give comfort and tell us it would be better next time.

She was loved by many friends who miss her still today. She was always the first in to the pool or say yes to a party, as she loved fun, as much as, or more than anyone. She truly loved life.

So, on this day, which always will be a sad day for us all, instead, we will smile and remember all the joy she gave each of us, as she would light up our lives with her radiant smile.

Continue to Rest In Peace, Dear Sister.

Why I Believe in Rubio/Hunt

​Last night, I posted the following on my FACEBOOK page:

I have been thinking for a while about 2028. I like the sound of Marco Rubio and Wesley Hunt as our next President and Vice President. Any thoughts?

Let me explain my reasoning to you.

Many people have called for a Vance-Rubio ticket for 2028. On the surface, it would be a good choice. But Vance does not have the seasoning as much as Rubio, although he is the current Vice President. 

Marco Rubio was active in Florida politics before running for the Senate in 2010 and winning. He was recognized almost immediately as a strong leader when he arrived in 2011, and over the years, he has proven himself to be one of the smartest Members to serve in the Senate.

He ran, unsuccessfully, in 2015/2016 for President, but Donald Trump led all competitors even before he announced. Ultimately, he was subsequently nominated for Secretary of State and won all Senators’ affirmative votes as even they recognized his outstanding abilities to grasp the details needed to be the nation’s top diplomat.

And he has performed admirably to represent US interests on the world stage.

Wesley Hunt has proven himself to be a formidable leader in the House, given his years of military service, rising to the rank of Captain before being honorably discharged in 2012. He graduated in 2004 from the US Military Academy before his deployment to Iraq as an Apache helicopter pilot. He also did two tours in Saudi Arabia as a diplomatic liaison.

Both men came from humble beginnings and learned from the school of hard knocks. Both men are deeply religious and have strong,  conservative family values.

They each possess love of country, a keen sense of loyalty to the Constitution and have put America and Americans first.

They are the next generation of leaders, Rubio from Gen X and Hunt a millennial. They are both from a minority group but believe in the importance of ALL Americans’ rights without prejudice.

As Americans, we have claimed we had issues with race in the past, but we have evolved beyond the bigotry of a bygone era. As MLK had dreamed, it is not the color of our skin, or hereditary of background, by which a man should be judged, but rather, by the content of one’s character which should matter more.

Both these men have strong moral character and deserve our vote to be the next President and Vice President of the United States. Let’s make it a reality.

The 25th Anniversary Commemoration of 9/11

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Yesterday, at the 9/11 Commemoration at the Pentagon, President Trump paid homage to the victims in a solemn ceremony of remembrance. But he was not the person who made an impact. 

Instead, Former Secretary of State and Bush 43 NSA Advisor, Condoleeza Rice offered an apology to the nation and to the families of the victims for not recognizing the dangers in time to prevent the attacks. 

She shared she will always carry “deep personal remorse” for the pain to the families and to the trauma endured by the nation by the failure of so many by not understanding the intelligence data available at the time.

It was certainly one, powerful Mea Culpa.

In addition, the services in Shanksville was solemnly observed by PA Governor Josh Shapiro and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, along with members of the National Parks Department, and Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick.

They all recognized that the crew and passengers who sacrificed their lives certainly prevented even greater harm that day to the nation.

In New York, however, it was a huge photo op for all four living ex-Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden and their wives. In addition, a who’s who of political notables were in attendance, including Former Governors Pataki and Cuomo, along with former Mayors Giuliani, Bloomberg, DeBlasio and Adams.

They were joined by Vice President  Vance, Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani.

It was certainly a solemn event with the reading of the almost 3,000 names of the victims by their family members. But it did not take place without controversy.

Terry Strada: While reading the names of victims, she diverged from the script to call out the US government and the former Presidents for protecting Saudi Arabia over the past 25 years.

The Message: She urged President Donald Trump to tell the Saudis to "stop lying" and to hold the kingdom accountable regarding its alleged ties to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Leaders Present: Vice President JD Vance  and those former Presidents attended the New York City event. Strada directed her remarks toward the administration officials present, telling Vice President Vance to carry her message back to President Trump.

And of course, the biggest clown show during the event was Mayor Mamdani, who was seen taking pictures of several politicos, including President Bush. He was also seen yucking it up with his DSA fellow member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It was truly a disgraceful mockery of a solemn occasion.

Quite a difference between the solemnity of the Pentagon and Shanksville ceremonies, and the irreverant manner Mamdani and AOC treated the New York ceremony.

Sadly, it showed that too many people forgot what the day means.

The Solemnity of an Anniversary, Twenty-Five Years Later

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Many of us who were alive and aware of the events which took place twenty-five years ago today can remember where they were when they heard the news. Much like when JFK and RFK were assassinated.

It is just one of those defining moments in US history. Like Pearl Harbor and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

On that day, 2,977 souls were lost. And those deaths have affected us ever since.

Breakdown by Location

World Trade Center: 2,753 deaths (including civilians and hundreds of first responders).
The Pentagon: 184 deaths (including passengers and crew on American Airlines Flight 77, as well as Pentagon personnel and civilians).
Shanksville, Pennsylvania (Flight 93): 40 deaths (not including the four hijackers, after passengers bravely fought back).

It seems we all knew someone who died. My cousin Tom and my sister-in-law’s daughter Monique were lost that day. Sadly, my sister-in-law was watching in horror through her hospital work window as the towers began their collapse.

We had all finally watched the events unfold during that day, and the days which followed. It took days and weeks to finally come to terms with that tragedy. But in the years since then, the families who lost loved ones are still haunted by those events.

Subsequently, thousands of people who lived and worked in the area, or who worked on the pile of debris looking for remains of victims in the following months, were affected with all sorts of carcinogens which affected their health. But no amount of money will ever cover the true cost to their health and/or their lives.

And the cost to our freedoms and liberties is immeasurable to that which we enjoyed prior to 9/11. Our country is not the same.

We can lay blame on what caused this tragedy, whether on poor construction to the building, the government’s neglect to intelligence leading up to the event, or to a specific ideology. All may have had a role but were not the cause.

We need to acknowledge that it were those individuals with the dark hearts and souls, filled with unmitigated hate, which caused this. We need to realize this on our own or we, too, will be enveloped and consumed by that same hate.

We need to remember this day as a sacred day, as we do with Pearl Harbor or the day JFK was murdered in front of us. And we need to remember that the 2,977 souls we lost that day, and the thousands since, did not die with hate in their hearts.

It will forever be a solemn day in American History. And will hopefully continue to be revered in the decades to come.

May they all forever Rest In Peace. Amen.