Looking back at the year that is 2006, I can't help but view it in a most positive way. Many Italians and Italian Americans have made this year memorable in many avenues. The strides made in the political, social, and athletic arenas are amazing and soon will not be forgotten.

Since this issue of La Voce is coming out in December, and the main features, of course, are about Christmas, we start with the appointing of two new Italian saints by Pope Benedict XVI. On October 15 of this year both Felice da Nicosia, a lay Capuchin, and Rev. Gaetano Cantanoso, who founded the Veronican Sisters of the Holy Face, were Canonized as Saints in the Roman Catholic Church.

In the political world, for the first time in Italian history the Italian Senate had seats open to the rest of the world. Right here in the United States if you have dual citizenship you were eligible to run for the office. La Voce columnist Dom Serafini and the publisher of Chicago's Italian-American newspaper, Fra Noi, put up strong campaigns. Eventually, Renata Turano of the Fra Noi won the election.

The National Italian American Foundation had this to say of her pending appointment, "All Italian Americans can be proud of Nancy Pelosi. She is positioned to make history by her impending election to Speaker of the House, the highest post in the United States House of Representatives, and the third-highest office in the United States government. She will become both the highest ranking woman and Italian American in the history of the U.S. Congress. Congresswoman Pelosi has been a longtime supporter and a member of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) Board of Directors. We heartily congratulate her. Leader Pelosi has also been active in the bipartisan and bicameral Italian American Congressional Delegation, of which NIAF has served as an extension for more than 30 years," said Dr. A. Kenneth Ciongoli, NIAF Chairman.

In the wake of all the political changes and advancements by Italian Americans around the country we hear former New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, has now announced the formation of an exploratory committee to look into a possible run for the Presidency of the United States in 2008.

Now, not everything related to the political arena was positive in nature when it comes to the Italian American image. In the recent race for the U.S. Senate seat from New Jersey, a negative television ad depicting the incumbent, Senator Robert Menendez, being associated with unsavory underworld characters was obviously promoting a negative Italian American stereotype.

The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) reviewed the advertisement and had this to say, "This advertisement is alarming and harmful to Italian Americans. Playing into the imagery of 'The Sopranos,' it reinforces a negative and stereotypical depiction of an entire ethnic community," said Dr. Ciongoli.

We obviously still have a long way to go to completely eradicate this ethnic stereotyping in any form of any kind.

Now to my favorite arena of interest, Sports. I want to congratulate St. Louis Cardinals Manager, Tony La Russa, for a job well done winning the World Series with a mediocre baseball team. The team barely won their division and basically backed into the playoffs. The team had a suspect pitching staff led by Detroit Tiger, New York Yankee and Los Angeles Angels cast-off Jeff Weaver. The team's batting was down, but when it counted all the moves La Russa made were the correct ones. That is why he is in the Italian American Hall of Fame in Chicago, IL.

I also want to congratulate the Toronto Raptors for having the courage to draft Andrea Bargnani as their number one selection in the 2006 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. The young forward should bring a shooter's touch to the game but will probably leave the defense to the other four players on the court.

World Cup Champions!!! And finally, before the final whistle blows, who can forget the World Cup of Soccer 2006. The Italian national team won their fourth World Cup title in great fashion and with what they have always been known for. Great Defense!!!

All in all, I think this year has been a good one, and hopefully 2007 will bring a greater understanding of our differences and a stronger feeling for what we all have in common in history's greatest melting pot, America!!!