Hatred has no home here!

The recent post 'Hatred has no home here' by an community member regarding a situation in Stoneham at a local restaurant is almost unbelievable. Sadly, I am sure its very true. I have seen this hatred up close and personal throughout my entire life. It still happens today when I get that odd look from people when I pass by them in the town square from the coffee shop, or while I may catch a brunch with my friend near the post office, or even when I cross the Main Street intersection going to Friendly's Ice Cream. They don't know it, but they reveal their inner feelings on their faces. For those who understand the many faces prejudice its definitely a fact!

You may think I carry the color of a black man. I am not a person of obvious ethnicity. I am boring older white person, born in Somerville, MA, of Italian heritage. I don't walk with a limp, nor do I support a noticeable physical deformity. But occasionally, more than I want to recognize, I notice people staring at me oddly. For years I wondered.... why? Now remember, I am not by any means a famous man, a second rate movie star from a sitcom, even though sometimes I think my life is a movie. So I check my hat to see if sits on my head crooked, or ask my companion if I have dirt on my face? But the obvious answer is the same. Its not who, or what I am........ it is the person I am with, that raises the eyebrows of the passerby.

What I do proudly state is that I have many friends of diverse backgrounds. My friends can be from anywhere, wear a strange piece of clothing, speak a different language, eat weird foods, or even physically look different! I reflect back to the late 50's growing up in Somerville, I say this is me, my family, my culture, my heritage as an first generation Italian. I remember the old days of my youth when I was looked at strangely, we ate different foods, spoke a different language, wore crazy clothes, and by the way some of us from Sicily were a little darker shade which today is called 'olive'.

But my memory has other sad moments to reflect upon. The many times I was called grease ball, spaghetti bender, mafia, guinea wop, or a kinder word 'goombah'. As a young boy I remember the beatings in the neighborhood streets of Charlestown, where I was told not to ride my bike for reasons I did not understand. The blood may have stained my clothes, but fortunately it did not stain my heart with hatred.

So yes, occasionally, you may see me in Stoneham crossing the Main street with a young black child, her name is Cadia, she is 11 years old. Her mother shares a meal with me when she is not working her three jobs, attending Northeastern classes, or picking the child up from day care. Every so often you may see her in the downtown having a coffee with me, her name is Cardesha......I know what your thinking what strange names. They are from the island of Trinidad. That's off the coast of Venezuela, in the Caribbean.

Once, or twice you may have seen me with a little Latina child and her Hispanic mother going to the Stop & Shop. The child's name is Alisson, the mom is Lucia, they are from El Salvador. You know that terrible place where all the famous MS-13 and Barrio-18 gangsters come from. They don't speak English yet but are learning.

Hatred has no home here.....I say hatred has no home ANYWHERE!! We have come very far in the last 50 years. But like Robert Frost the poet wrote in one of his poems...."But I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep".

I live my everyday simple life by these words from a great leader... Martin Luther King. RIGHT IS RIGHT, EVEN IF NO ONE IS DOING IT, AND WRONG IS WRONG , EVEN IF EVERYONE IS DOING IT.

Try it your smile will reflect the love in your heart improving every facet of your life. Paul Maisano a long time resident of Somerville & Stoneham, MA.