BY MARIO CONSTANTINI, OWNER OF LA LUNE COLLECTION
When my parents and I arrived in America from Argentina in 1964 with only a suitcase and the clothes on our backs, we were the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The Statue of Liberty was a beacon of hope and democracy, standing in stark contrast to the repressive and authoritarian governments we had left behind in Argentina. By contrast, for more than 240 years, the United States was defined by the peaceful transfer of power – a sacred democratic principle that we can no longer take for granted.
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America was never perfect, but I still hold onto the idealistic vision of this country that inspired me as a young immigrant. I am heartbroken to see how far we have drifted from the America we knew in 1964. America’s success has long rested on the strength of its democracy, freedoms, free markets, openness to immigrants, great educational institutions, infrastructure and stable political and legal systems. Today, many of these foundations are broken or in rapid decline, and the nation has become increasingly divided, dysfunctional and, at times, corrupt.
I can never thank America enough for my life here, and I only wish I could offer a more positive message as we approach this historic anniversary. If we hope to restore our nation, we must rediscover our moral compass and make government more responsive, more accountable and less divided.
