America: It brings out the worst and best in people
Reflections on the immigrant perspective by an Italian-American romantic
As an “off-the-boat” immigrant as well as an individual that has lived both in the US and abroad, I tend to see things through a somewhat broader lens. Professionally I live in the world of information technology but my heart often pulses to passions outside of STEM. I feel comfortable listening, attentively, to days of college lectures on literature, poetry, classical languages, and the intersection of politics and history.
On this Saturday evening, reflecting on my hectic weekend morning, which included my customary trip to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx, I thought a bit more about my Italian-American heritage. The catalyst was my visit to the Church of Mount Carmel [1] on 187th street in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Without mentioning the famous movie, ask actor Chazz Palminteri [2] and he will certainly tell you a thing or two about the area, and the beautiful immigrant church completed in 1912.
It is a beautiful sanctuary, especially later in the day, when the lighting is low. delicate, and that special ambiance coats and fills this spiritual space. This was and remains a church of immigrants. It was built and frequented by Italian immigrants, later Italian-American immigrants and…
