Thanks Franco - a really moving, interesting post.

It is nice to see the "real man" behind the somewhat extreme political posts you often make.

On the lighter side.. here is something very interesting ...It is very common when clients (travellers) who join me on site inspection visit in Calabria ..to say that they felt that they have been here before even thou they have never been. I get this comment alot from clients especially the ones who have had relatives pass away in their towns. "Dejavu"

Destiny

Many Italian families living outside Italy will use this italian word “Destino” when they are telling one of their loved ones their own story of how they left Italy. We know that the majority of Italians, did so... because of the hard economic times during and after the war, especially those who lived in the southern regions. As I mentioned before most Italians living abroad are from the south of Italy. Besides that …what made your parents or grandparents leave Italy...Was it their “Destiny”? Who called them to come to America?

That's a very touching story and like Mark said, it's nice to see a softer side of you.

frank you asked wether we believe in destiny, what about you? do you think that one's actions are predetermined no matter what he does?

Yes,
I believe that the word Destiny is one of the most powerful words. We all have a strong feeling of being destined or called to undertake a specific journey...a “vocation” and thru this journey that others call fate, we experience the strangest demands for fortune and love. Most men use the word when seeking fortune and most women use the word when seeking Love. What determines our destiny and how we find both is how we overcome external circumstances and outside influences but at the end of our journey some of us are lucky enough to reach our final destination with both.

There is a song called “something inside” and a nice movie called “August Rush” that defines everything I mentioned. This little boys and his parents journey had experienced it all…

I find this a very interesting topic which I have often pondered. It seems that some of it may be destiny. I was brought to the USA from Sicily when I was only 5, so how can this be choice? It was my parent’s choice. Even that, may be destiny as my dad's parents had immigrated also before him to this USA. The times were tough after the war as my dad had told me and jobs were scarce. Even though he had a job as a mason worker he worried perhaps about what all his kids could do. So here we are in America. I have wondered at times what my life would have been like if my family never would have come to the USA. I can see that we have many opportunities here. I can also see a split at times in the culture difference that took place in my family and some of the misunderstandings that can occur. Take for example the simple attitude on dating for girls, in America, and combine it with a strict upbringing that some of the southern Italians have. My sisters I am sure feel that they were treated unfair on this. So destiny may be a real thing. I think we do all have choices on what we do in the present, or is that an illusion also??? Very interesting topic, Thanks

Well I believe in destiny! But I also think that a person has some level of control in what happens in his/her life, at least to some extent... Inevitably, though, "que sera sera" (hehe... Doris Day anyone?).

Sorry if my view is paradoxical. I'm always stuck when it comes to this sort of question!

__________________
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this,
And this gives light to thee.

To die one day is my destiny. To do good or bad while I am alive is my free choice. Mussolini
and Hitler died early for doing bad. Their choice of behavior determined their destiny.

If everything is preordained then why put someone in jail for stealing? And if everything is free
choice, then why can't that incarcerated person simply walk out of jail any time he or she wants?

Looking at it from a spiritual perspective, it is clear that every major religion of the world (Judaism,
Christianity, Islam) accepts the co-existence of destiny and free choice. All theologies believe that human
beings are destined for greatness. That is why they extol virtue and abhor immorality. All theologies also
believe in free choice, else the concepts of reward and punishment, comeuppance and recompense, heaven,
hell, all become meaningless.

Some people use destiny as an excuse for bad behavior. Whenever conscience bothers any one who has done
something wrong, destiny is the cushion he or she falls on. "What could I do? It was preordained that I
steal this diamond brooch." Get the idea?

Therefore your destiny is determined by your behavior, the behavior of other toward you based on your behavior towards
them, the finanical situation you were born into(rich parents etc. etc.), hard work, and lots of luck.
But then again who believes in luck!

Exactly, then think about this. One child is born into wealth, a silver spoon in his mouth. Goes to top schools, colleges meets all the right people and he to becomes wealthy, goes to the country clubs. Another child born into poverty. He is tempted to steal. He does, gets caught and off to jail. How can we say there is no element of destiny?? Of course there are stories of people born into poverty and bad environment and they do great so who knows?? Possibly we all have a great destiny but it is up to us to discover it and work towards it.