Stories
Like to write? If so, submit your short stories here. We'll share them with the rest of the members. Not sure if what you have to write about is any good? Don't worry. Even if it's lousy, there is always someone that will find it enjoyable.
American? or Sicilian?
Growing up in Brooklyn in a Sicilian home was filled with sights and sounds that really have to be experienced to fully understand. However, there was one little problem. Who are we? Well, at first, the answer seems quite simple. We are Americans. We were born here, we are citizens, so we must be Americans. But, how come the other Americans call us Italians? Sure, we speak a little of the language, but we are not fluent. In fact, on our last trip to Sicily, our cousin referred to us as Americans!. So, who are we?
We are different enough to be in the middle. We are Italian-Americans. Neither Italian nor American. We have a unique lifestyle that borrows from both countries. We are very family oriented and respectful. We often times see the Americans suffer because they don't have a strong sense of family. They hurt themselves because they don't respect themselves or others. Is this when we are Italians? On ther other side of the coin, we have nice things. We work hard for material things. Sometimes we put our career before our famlies. This is when we are criticized by the Italians. Now we are Americans.
It is sometimes very hard to fit in. It is getting hard to have people understand that our families do come first. And that the things we do should benefit the whole rather than the individual.
Yes, it is a struggle sometimes. We criticize no one. We just wish that people would understand that we are a special group, perhaps a whole other people. Italian-Americans. Not one, not the other, but both.
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