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 toMauro 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.
I've interviewed other immigrants who are now citizens, and they
profess the same strong fervor for America and what it offers
that Ms. Cugnasca exudes. The percentage of eligible voters
actually taking their responsibility to vote seriously is
minuscule. Even if tomorrow's election is fraught with animosity
and polarized factions, at least this time it will probably
generate a higher percentage of participants.
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.
But the demagogues are out in force in Florida and elsewhere with
their lawyers and poll-watchers, allegedly to make sure that the
votes of members of minority groups are counted. What they should
have been doing months ago is flooding the area with instructions
on voting properly, because - listen up - a vote will not be
counted if it is marked incorrectly or if it's not in the
district where you're registered. Your color does not matter.
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.