Immigrants Are More American
Immigrants Are ?‘More American?’
Compared to Americans who were born in this country, the very elegant Italian woman said, ?“Immigrants who come here to the United States to stay are so much more American.?”
Giovanna Cugnasca said this to me over dinner at Lusardi?’s on the Upper East Side. It?’s an excellent place to dine. Claudio, the chef, is not only talented, he?’s very creative.
Ms.Cugnasca came here in 1972,and saying she is passionate about her feelings as an American would be an understatement. What, I asked her, was it about the United States that made her want to stay here? She answered, ?“the freedom.?”
I was very surprised by her answer, because she came from Italy, not exactly an Iron Curtain country. But she was referring to the freedom the American woman has here, in America, to do anything she wants. She can follow any career she chooses ?— which was not the case in Italy in the early 1970s.
Ms. Cugnasca also noticed with amazement, as she crossed the Triborough Bridge headed toward Manhattan, the housing projects with air conditioners in apartment windows. Another cultural shock for the newly arrived Italian was the availability of hot running water in each apartment. Those comfort features were not so readily available then, even in the upper-middle-class Italian homes. We here in America have always taken for granted the high comfort level we enjoy, even in our poorer neighborhoods. I lived in a slum, but the apartment had a bathroom with hot running water whenever the super remembered to do his job. Moving into a housing project was an ever greater step up in personal luxury. America, what a country!
Ms. Cugnasca then introduced me to
Mauro Lusardi,one of the owners of the restaurant, who kindly sat and endured my prying questions. He and his brother Luigi are the owners of seven restaurants: five in Manhattan and two in Westchester. He came to America in 1971 and became a citizen around five years ago.Since Mr.Lusardi has most of his family still in Italy,his ties with Italy are very close. He regards America as ?“his home away from home?” and visits Italy several times a year. So why did he become a citizen? ?“Because I had the desire to vote,?” he answered. Ah, what a perfect answer.
Besides wanting to vote, Ms. Cugnasca wanted to be called for jury duty. Those are the two civic duties that many Americans consider a chore but immigrants consider the greatest opportunity to take full part in a government of, by, and for the people.
When I lived in Spanish Harlem and registered to vote for the very first time, I had to bring my diploma, because a literacy test was required. Was I in danger of being disenfranchised? Was this requirement even legal or restricted just to Hispanics? Do I care? The important thing is that I registered, voted correctly, and have never missed an opportunity to vote since.
Once upon a time, you had to show your voter?’s registration card before you could vote. Now you don?’t even have to be a citizen.You can be here illegally and vote ?— just don?’t get caught. Several of the 9/11 hijackers were registered to vote. What is the likelihood that they were registered as Republicans? The only way to ensure that only eligible citizens decide how to run this country is to require proof of citizenship before registering. That?’s not likely to happen.
After dinner, Giovanna Cugnasca told me of the heartfelt pride she felt watching our hostages return from Iran in 1981, getting off the plane and waving the American flag. I know that feeling. May God bless America. Keep it strong.Vote.
P.S. We are not Spain.
By Giovanna Cugnasca said this to m
