Vincenzo ScipioniTwitter Handle---> @UnseeingEyes
Website---> http://UnseeingEyes.com
What is your profession?
I am an author. I am a teacher. I am a painter.
What motivates you or excites you?
Depends on what we are talking about. In a general sense, people; my love, my genuine desire to make this world a better place and help those who want help; talk to those who are willing to listen. The simple things in life motivate and excite me. I look forward to a fresh peach, a hot plate of pasta, a kiss, a warm embrace.
Name 3 things you couldn't live without...Paper, music, friends and loved ones.
Reader; I have the most voracious appetite. Kisser I would say is a close second. But I can say with certainty, there is not a person alive who has read and reads as much as I do. And I can instantly recall everything I’ve ever read.
Where is the best place you have been in the world?
I know what you mean, but first I’m going to answer how I want to: In the back seat of the car, on a cold winter day, with the heat blasting, my father talking to my Grandpa in the front seat, and me lovingly embraced in my Grandma’s arms. She wore an amazingly soft red coat, with a fur trim…and her hands were always warm, her voice always soothing. In between answering all my questions, she’d always used to sing softly, and eventually I’d fall asleep. When I awoke, I knew it was that time, and my father and I were dropping off my grandparents back at their home. My grandmother would always give me money; usually two $10’s or two $20 dollar bills; and she’d always say the same thing, “Grandma & Grandpa love you. This is just a little something for you, and a little something for your sister. Be good.” I cannot say enough about my Grandma, Grandpa, Papa, and Nana—each dying when I was still young, but each impacting who I am today tremendously. So the best place I’ve ever been in the world is really all of the time I spent with my grandparents growing up.
The best physical location; I’d have to say the entire country of Italy, specifically Rome; or the entire State of New York, specifically New York City and Orient Point. Those are tied for THE BEST.
How did you find Twitter?
In actuality, it is an amazing thing; Twitter, and this “new way” of communicating and sharing information is extremely powerful. Like minded individuals, professors and teachers, doctors, students, artists—in fact all people could be collaborating very real ideas and knowledge, creating real solutions and evoking change. But that isn’t happening.
In reality, it’s for the most part a horrible waste of time and utterly mindless. If it were not for the genuine friends I talk to and inspire me on a regular basis, I would no longer participate in it. This 140 character limit isn’t making people prune, refine, and really value the “words” and “language” they use; it’s making people quick and lazy. I’ve said it before many times on Twitter in fact, “Text messaging, e-mail, Tweets—are ALL simplifying our language. When you simplify language, you simplify thought.”
To say one last thing about Twitter, it could be much better than it exists today; and this could be achieved by doing relatively little. It could be used to “really connect” people and evoke change. It has become and will only further resemble in the future, “more of the same.” That is, unless “WE THE PEOPLE,” those who use Twitter, begin actively doing something about it.
What was your objective in joining Twitter?
To help people. To inspire people. To make people feel good about themselves. To learn. To share. To grow. To teach. To listen. To be a part of a collective consciousness. To make Twitter better, enriching its overall content and direction.
If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?
Only one—that sucks, I want to bring back a whole bunch. Why can’t we have a banquet? The answer probably depends on what type of mood I’m in. Right now I’m going to have to say Leonardo da Vinci; and I want to get him for at least a few hours. When I turn 30, perhaps I’ll say a weekend with Mick Jagger or Elvis hitting New York City hard.
If you could meet someone from Twitter, who would it be?
Once again I would say that depends on my mood. Right now I’m going to say I’d like to meet one of my favorite LADY followers. It would certainly be a “regular” person in a discrete location for a relaxing evening.
Writing with black magic marker all over the side of the couch when I was three years old. I had to finish writing my story because I ran out of paper. It is actually my oldest “thought.” I remember making the decision to write on the couch because it was definitely “big enough.” I can still see my hand, the marker, every word of the story, and my father’s face. The story I wrote when I was three, along with the story about the process of writing that story appears in my book, “Silent Pages, Loud Thoughts, & Short Stories.”
What is the most challenging obstacle you have ever overcome?
I don’t know if I’ve overcome it yet. The most challenging obstacle is my own defeatist thoughts. I am a horribly tough critic. My mind tells me you should give up, you cannot change the world, you will ultimately die a failure—but then my being says, that isn’t you, you must press on, you will do it, you can “help” this world, you are incapable of giving up.
What things would you want people to remember about you?
Just one thing; and I know it’s not a word, but I’d like people to say he was the “goodest” person they’ve ever known. I don’t want people to remember how brilliant I was, or how well I wrote, or all the things I accomplished—I just want them to remember quite simply that I was one of the “goodest.” And I’d like the thought of me to act as a catalyst—I want people to think about themselves and their own experiences when they think about me.
How would you describe the American Dream? Does it exist?
This is the most important question you have asked. This must be addressed in a legacy of work, not just an Interview answer. The American Dream is an extremely complex human universal, while at the same time uniquely different for each individual. It still exists, but it is constantly abused and beaten-up by our politicians, government, corporations, ignorance, dogmas, & sheltered lives.
America is really an idea, a philosophy, a way of being; and you don’t have to be born in America, or live in America, to be an American. Many people in America are no longer true Americans and it really isn’t their fault. They are debt ridden, struggling, working hard, only to never get ahead, constantly worried, and ultimately feeling hopeless. Additionally, when it comes to countries, for too many reasons to discuss, America is not perfect, but surely the absolute best place. It is the greatest place in the world to live because anyone from any part of the world can find a niche of familiar things and people. America has made bits and pieces of ALL cultures her very own.
To really LEARN about the American Dream, LIVE the American Dream, FIND and DEFINE it for yourself; I encourage you to read as many of the GREAT American Authors you can; then LEARN about GREAT authors in other countries and cultures. Your American Dream, the American Dream will become as clear as day.
What do you think our government owes us? (if anything) Do we have a role as citizens in this situation?
Our government owes it to us to NOT continually change, adapt, adopt, and create laws. They are controlling our lives and convincing us it is not only good for us, and the best they can do, but also FREEDOM. WE need to take control of our government once again by not electing politicians and business tycoons. We give them the power, but at the same time look at our choices? The very best candidates get no exposure. It is time for us to make this country better by CLEANING HOUSE and saying, all these democrats and republicans are a bunch of bullshit artists and assholes; and I’ve had enough of this shit! So no, the government doesn’t owe us anything, we owe it to ourselves.
Remember you heard it HERE FIRST folks; this Presidential election & campaign was “Change,” “Change,” “Be the Change,” “We are the Change” & “Change.” We needed that, people felt good about that, people thought yes, we are making a difference and “change” is what we need. To those with a keen eye, this “change” we have embraced is unfortunately more of the same and part of the machine. Our current President has just perpetuated the madness of his predecessors and is exactly the same evil. The next big Presidential campaign will be “Return to Basics” “Getting back to Grassroots,” “Going back to the days of Yesteryear,” “Return to simplicity,” “Return to normalcy.” The entire thing is scripted and absurd! Nothing is going to change or get better unless WE the PEOPLE become actively involved; this means doing a hell of a lot more than merely voting.
I love NY & I know you live there...what things would you suggest NOT to miss when visiting NY?
Well, when you come to NY you should do the things that regular New Yorkers do. Sure the Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty and Macy’s and Time Square and the museums, and Broadway…all that stuff is great, but you can miss a few of those or just fly through them and take a few pictures.
What you CANNOT MISS is “Central Park,” just an amazing oasis in the middle of the concrete jungle. You have to walk around, bring some food, maybe a blanket, book, Frisbee. Also, you must eat a real piece of pizza, good pizza. I recommend six pizza joints all for different reasons, but “Ray’s Pizza” you will find easily and is awesome. I like the Ray’s Pizza on Prince Street between Elizabeth & Mott. Also a good Ray’s on 7th Avenue between 53rd & 54rth.
And a ride in a taxi, also get on a subway—both are like the roller coaster rides from hell for the squeamish and very exhilarating to the thrill seeker. You’ll be sure to have at least one crazy person talk to you as well; and that makes your trip all the more worth it!
