Word: ussia
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...Samuel Ussia wants to spearhead a second Renaissance at the intersection of Hampshire and Portland streets. Ussia, president of the Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts, hopes the construction of a $1 million Italian Center of Culture in Cambridge will be "the tool by which Italian-Americans insert themselves into the mainstream of the historical process in America...
...Times weren't mature enough before for the establishment of the center," Ussia says. Until recently, the "melting pot" concept was foremost in the minds of Italian-Americans. "The idea was that you could put someone in the melting pot, wash him clean, and leave on him the imprimatur of America--but that didn't work. If I wanted a cup of espresso in the North End, I'd go whether they...
...year-old engineer from Brookline calls "constructive ethnicity" the successor to the notion of a great American melting pot. "All ethnic groups have to synthesize the best values of their culture in the formulation of the new American ideals," Ussia says, adding that changing demographics and a resurgence of ethnic pride will form this new American culture...
Greek-Americans preserve their culture through the Hellenic Society, French-Americans through L'Alliance Francaise, and Jewish-Americans through B'nai B'rith and other organizations, but "Italian-Americans have nothing," Ussia says. "It's fine to revert back to your roots, but it's crucial that Italian-American culture--somewhat different than Italian culture--have a home of its own. We have to do it now," he adds...