Will the Portuguese-American community in New England continue to have strong ties to Portugal? Even those born in the United States?
Without a doubt, and now more than ever. The Portuguese-American community in New England has been exemplary in the way it preserves and cultivates its cultural heritage and transmits it to future generations, while at the same time knowing how to integrate into the host society. Examples of this are these living signs of our age-old presence, social, cultural and religious, which abound in these parts and which constitute authentic pillars and instruments to strengthen this cultural identity. There are several examples of full integration into North American society, namely in the areas of business, arts, culture, sports, music, research, etc. The ties with Portugal are certainly still alive, through the various channels of dissemination (social media,) that reach us every day from the country of origin. Moreover, this connection is made easier by more frequent air connections from various cities in the US and especially by the very positive image of modern Portugal among the new generations of Portuguese descendants.
Newspapers love Portuguese times Can they exert influence in the community and help maintain these ties with their country of origin?
This has been the role for more than half a century of history Portuguese times, which was not only about preserving and strengthening ties with one’s origins, but also about projecting the various socio-cultural initiatives of the many social organizations spreading throughout New England, especially in the states of Massachusetts and Rhode Island . The weekly magazine that I have been managing since 2012 is a reference and an intangible heritage of this community, precisely because of its role in strengthening Portuguese cultural identity and because, on the other hand, it has been an instrument for bringing communities together and playing a role to play as integration into society, of shelter.
Has the integration of the Portuguese into the United States been successful overall, from a socio-economic point of view?
I think so, in general, in such a way that the community is seen in the most diverse sectors of society as an example of integration, because of its capacity and dynamism in this desire to win and provide a better future to the coming generation. It would take an entire page of DN to point out examples of this success.
We are less than a year away from the presidential and congressional elections. Does the community have political involvement? Is it possible that there are still Portuguese-American congressmen?
If you were to ask me this question forty or fifty years ago, I would say that the community had little expression and representation at the time. However, I think that progress has been made over the last three to four decades, but we are still far from what would be ideal. Note that here in the US we have about a million and 400,000 Portuguese and Portuguese descendants and we have little representation at the federal level, only translated by two states: California and Massachusetts. However, at the state level we have representatives of Portuguese descent in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, California and Virginia, and at the municipal level there are hundreds in most US states. I think the lack of Portuguese representation has more to do with a cultural issue. The Portuguese never liked to get involved in the political world. However, I think this is changing and am therefore optimistic that we will continue to have members of Congress at the federal level.
Are the Portuguese-Americans who vote leaning more towards Democrat Joe Biden or are there those who welcome the possible return of Republican Donald Trump to the White House?
The political situation we are currently experiencing in the United States is, in my opinion, worrying. Let’s see: The current tenant of the White House has not lived up to expectations, especially for those who supported him in the previous elections. In fact, I think that those who voted for Biden in the last presidential election wanted to ensure that Donald Trump would not remain president. It was more of a vote against Trump than support for Biden. There are those who long for the return of the previous Republican president and there are those who want another Republican leader, more balanced and consensual. And on the other hand, there are also those who prefer a new Democratic president in the White House, due to the old age of the current president, a hypothesis that in my opinion is not very feasible, since I do not see the Democratic president Party elects a new leader at the next convention. In short: the Portuguese community is deeply divided over who should occupy the White House in 2024.
How do you see relations between the United States and Portugal, following the recent visit of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa?
American relations with Portugal have always been friendly and very close, not only because of the proximity of the two countries, on the edge of both continents, but also because of the convenience for both countries. in Portugal and of the Portuguese – about 1 million and 400 thousand – living in the US, force us to do this: to a friendly relationship that is necessary because it has in fact been that way for more than two centuries. But of course it is always positive, especially for greater visibility of the Portuguese community in the US, whenever a Portuguese President visits the US, thus strengthening these ties.
Came to Montreal for an event promoted by the newspaper LusoPress and through the LusaQ TV program, media outlets for the Portuguese-Canadian community. Do you see similarities between your Portuguese-American community and the Portuguese-Canadian community?
Clear and broad. I would even say carbon paper. The Portuguese communities in Canada and the US are struggling with the same problems and I would like to mention two essential problems: stagnation of the migration flow and aging of the community and thus the weakening and even disappearance of some living signs of our presence in these countries. countries, namely the associative movement, which is essential for the defense and projection of traditions brought from the country of origin. Whenever expressions of Portugueseness take place in these two countries, there must be the involvement of our associations, authentic nurseries of our customs and traditions. I also see similarities in the way both communities have developed and appreciated at all levels, especially because of their ability to integrate into their respective countries. In fact, I also see similarities in the way new generations appreciate modern Portugal, especially after the April Revolution of 1974 and its entry into the European Economic Community. This evolution of Portugal has also been important for the growing interest and “love at first sight” of the new Portuguese Made in Canada It is Made in the USA.
Source: DN
