Posted on 10/23/2011 9:50:53 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Madonna's older brother is homeless, living under a bridge in remote northern Michigan.
Anthony Ciccone, 55, told the Michigan Messenger newspaper that he lost his job more than a year ago at his father Silvio's winery near Traverse City, a resort community of 14,000 on upper Lake Michigan, about 215 kilometers south of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Ciccone says he has been living on the street ever since.
"My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time," Ciccone told the Messenger. "You think I haven't answered this kind of question a bazillion times why my sister is a multibazillionaire, and I'm homeless on the street? Never say never. This could happen to anybody."
Ciccone said he eats evening meals at Traverse City churches, and his only source of income is scrounging bottles and cans to return for their deposit value, and odd jobs.
Madonna Ciccone, 53, was born and raised in southern Michigan, the third of six children to an Italian immigrant father and a mother of French-Canadian descent. Madonna left the Detroit area for New York City in 1977, at age 19, to seek fame and fortune. By 1983 she had found it. Forbes magazine this year estimated Madonna's earnings from 2007 to 2010 alone to be $280 million.
Is that one of the bridges over the Boardman River?
If I had to guess what Tony's problem is, I'd say gambling, not drugs. I could well imagine his skimming profits and racking up huge losses and debts, even to the point of jeopardizing the winery. You can't swing a cat up there without hitting a casino wall. A junkie is a junkie, though--you have to want to quit.
No doubt that she's a first-class tramp and sanctimonious to boot, but when did she ever ask that her family--or anyone else--be responsible for her choices? Her fans might be nuts--they're obviously lacking taste--but they support her of their own free will. I've never known her to ask any quarter, you have to allow that.
Money is fungible; every cent (or good-equivilent) given “for food” is one more that can be spent on one’s vice.
That is why there is no such thing as "humanitarian aide".
“Like all stories, this one probably has two sides.”
Yes, I’m sure that’s true and cripplecreek makes an excellent point surmising you must be pretty messed up to get fired by your own father.
However, his sister really is mega-rich and I’d think she could set him up in some small way so at least he wasn’t living on the street and eating in a soup kitchen.
Anyway, I’d like to think I’d do that for my brother, no matter how messed up he was.
“Isnt that the brother that used to be her producer...or something like that?”
No, I’m pretty sure that brother was Christopher, and I think he was younger.
Could I get a link to that?
>No family of mine will ever sleep under a bridge if I can help them....Unless they become a danger to themselves or me<
Me neither. It’s FAMILY. I even have a full-blown LIB brother whom I cannot stand, cannot talk to, cannot relate to....but I will never allow him to be homeless.
The Immaterial Boy.
It sounds like you are afflicted with "worthless brother envy", a common malady.
Out of conservative compassion for your condition, I will bequeath you my brother, to begin your healing process.
All bequests final, no returns.
Yes, you’re right. Thanks.
He’s either lopsided or tipsy. Given the story, my bet would be tipsy...if I were one who liked to waste money on gambling.
I said nothing about supporting - giving him a safe and warm place apt to stay in is not supporting him, IMO. I don’t think he feels good about himself already - denying him of a bed and shower won’t make him feel better but worse. Seems they want him to suffer and continue to feel crappy about himself to come to his senses. That comes from within and it could come within a safe apt as well as under the bridge. If he drinks himself to death - that’s on him - he’ll do it where ever he is. But I wouldn’t act so blatantly cruel if I could afford it, not to provide him with a safe place, nontheless. The less fortunate may not be able to do that but I believe if they could they would, at least, provide that basic necessity.
Some give to charity to people they don’t even know and that makes them feel good but if they know someone and they don’t approve of their actions, they ignore them to teach them something. That’s hypocrisy, IMO.
I would guess by your comment, you have no compassion for anyone but yourself, which in fact is a more prevalent common malady, by several magnitudes.
Let’s forget for a moment that they are related.
This example: 1 person with money, 1 person without.
At some point the person with money, says enough is enough.
Michael Moore is said to live in Traverse City. Step up to the plate Mikey. Prove whom you say you are.
Thank God for people like you - and with your spirit I doubt any member of your family will feel desolate like he does. It could be the very reason he drinks - their attitude about him stinks, IMO. One can be in a family but not part of the family.
I do have a BIL, not a lib, and he’s the last person I want to help but we have many many times. It hasn’t changed him but I’m not in the business of changing anyone - I have a hard enough time changing myself. :-)
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