Philadelphia held its Columbus Day Parade on Sunday in South Philadelphia. Members of the Murray New Year's Association, including one with a fish head, make their way south on Broad St. (Charles Fox / Inquirer)
Stu Bykofsky: You want a parade? YOU pay for it
NO COLUMBUS DAY Parade in Philly?
How is that possible?
The economy? It forced reductions - but not cancellation - of the German-American Steuben Day and the Puerto Rican Day parades.
This year's Mummers Parade was almost canceled, but a cut-down parade got some quick cash to save it from death. The St. Patrick's Day Parade also dodged a bullet after a last-minute injection of funds.
The Irish saved their parade but Italians, almost 10 percent of the city, couldn't? Philadelphia has the second-largest Italian-American community in the nation.
In past years, according to Columbus Day Parade Coordinator Kathleen Murray, a state grant of $40,000 helped cover costs, but that didn't happen this year. (My guess: Vince Fumo had more pressing things to deal with.) Murray believes state money will return next year.
Why should a state gift be necessary?
Maybe "why" is the wrong question, too easily answered as "the economy."
Something else is going on here, but before I open that bag, I just have to ask:
How is it possible a city with so many proud Italian-Americans, Italian cultural institutions, civic and fraternal organizations - not too mention Italian restaurants - can't raise a piddling 40 grand? There's almost a half-million Italians in Greater Philadelphia. If this were a family, they could be sued for nonsupport. Whatsa matter wit youse, anyways?
My guess is the money could be raised if the right person asked in the right way.
I am not going to be that person. Italian-Americans came up surprisingly small when I campaigned throughout 1999 to raise money to get a mural of Italian-American icon Frank Sinatra on a wall in South Philly. The "Save the Columbus Parade" effort should led by an Italian-American and largely funded by Italian-Americans.
I know a lot of Italian-Americans look down their noses at "others" who ask government to take care of their wants and needs. I lived in South Philly - the Italian part - and remember neighbors sneering about "others" who "don't take care of their own."
So why does the Columbus Day Parade have to go hat in hand to Harrisburg?
Maybe there's just no desire or need for a Columbus Day Parade. This year, without a parade, a festival will be held Oct. 11 at Marconi Plaza, the parade's traditional end.
Maybe ethnic "parades" are a relic. Have they outlived their usefulness?
Truth is, spectators along the Broad Street Columbus Day Parade route were sparse in recent years. Even at its Marconi finale, only a few thousand paisans showed up.
Some people think none of us should be hyphenated-Americans, whether Italian-American, Irish-American or African-American. They think dropping our ethnic identification will make us better "Americans."
I don't believe that. Knowing your heritage tells you something about yourself. But I don't think it's the state's responsibility to indulge you in this.
So, if you want to have celebrations of your ethnic pride, pay for them yourself. Don't be an ethnic freeloader.
This is not just about money. You always appreciate something you had to work for more than something handed to you. It's easy for Italian-Americans to wear a red, white and green "Italia" T-shirt to show pride, but where's the pride when the only color required is green? Italian-Americans have the wealth. Do they have the will?
Getting Italo-Americans to pull together to raise money for next year's parade would be a bonding experience for them, and provide more incentive to attend the parade, because, basically, they ignore it now.
If they don't care, why should we?
E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns: http://go.philly.com/byko.
