Janine Materna: I’m a third generation Staten Islander

By Ilya Galak

Wikipedia: “A civic association is a type of organization whose official goal is to improve neighborhoods through volunteer work by its members”

Would you begin, Janine, by giving us a little information about yourself, your family background?

Sure, my name is Janine Materna and I’m a third generation Staten Islander. I’m the daughter of two loving hard working parents Joseph and Dolores Materna.

Sam Pirozzolo: You have got to love Gandhi – words to live by!

My name is Sam Pirozzolo and I am proud to be writing to you in the inaugural issue of Citizens Magazine appearing in the Staten Island Advance. I hold the position of President of the Community Education Council of District 31 (Staten Island), also known as CEC 31.

Testimonial of a Black Republican

by Providence Crowder (providencecrowder@gmail.com)

Ok, here’s the story.  I was born and raised a Democrat.  As odd as “being born a Democrat” may sound, that statement is as true as it is tragic.  Both my parents were, my aunts and uncles were, and every influential adult in my life proclaimed to be... a Democrat.

“Proper and Desired” vs “What it is”: Legacy of Milton Friedman

By Boris A. Borovoy, edited by Rachel B. Borovaya

... Luis Buñuel's film "Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie" ends with an amazing scene: the hall where respectable elite held their formal dinner, the terrorists are breaking in and starting a wild, pointless, stupid massacre. One of the elitists manages to hide under the table during the slaughter, continues to shove a piece of ham into his mouth...

How to solve the race problem

... I do not believe they bring us closer together. I think the only way to bridge these gaps is to stop pointing them out and start just seeing people. Maybe if spoken by a black man it will have more weight. Thoughts??
Here is a quick piece of an interview with Morgan Freeman a few years ago. I would like to see the whole thing myself, but I love what he has to say in this clip.

Dana International is a transsexual woman

Dana International, or Sharon Cohen, is one of the biggest stars in Israel. She won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest with her song "Diva", a song which represents her perfectly; this victory made her famous in all the world...

"Terrorists" – not "Muslim Terrorists"

It was September 11, 2001 and I was sitting in class. I was in the seventh grade and only 10 years old.  In a rush, an announcement was made that clearly stated that the day would be cut short and students were to go home. All of us looked puzzled. We kept asking what happened but no one would tell us anything. My father finally came for me and in a rush I asked him what happened. He said a plane was hijacked into the twin towers. I asked him who did it, he exclaimed "Terrorists."