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**Lxbsvksl** · 05-26-2009, 09:51 PM

The US had decades of strife because of these issues, Italy and the rest of Europe will too. It's only natural.

This country has gone from an insignificant immigrant population to a genuine presence in only 5 years or so. Italy has so many success stories with immigration and is generally doing a good job (considering it is starting from zero in a sense)... and most of the recent immigrants that I know will agree.

Probably more than most on this thread I'm in personal contact daily recent immigrants... the Albanian guys I shop fruit and vegetables in the piazza who are genuine friends, my Romanians friends (construction) I have lunch with a couple of times a week, the Albanian brothers who sell used furniture who sometimes join us, the Romanian lady I buy bread from, the Cuban sisters who have one of the most successful pastry shops in town (authentically Italian recipes). I helped an Albanian family with the Caritas (Catholic Charities) taking them there and acting as interpreter. So I do have some experience in seeing what that's like. And the list goes on.

Although my home and work is like most urban professionals, you guys won't believe it but my friends and social life are overwhelmingly lower working class. It is my taste and my choice.

So I hear stories constantly and everyone I know is happy with their decision to immigrate here.

Berlusconi: he's a good 30 percent ridiculous... but his effort to protect Italy's borders are excellent.... the clandestine immigrants must be turned back. The gypsy camps must be dismantled. I agree with many of his immigration policies: including free health care on demand... no questions asked.

_____

This is a fascinating article about Prato's (Florence) Chinatown... illustrating the positive and the negative:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,1337042.story

05-26-2009, 09:51 PM	#38
Lxbsvksl Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 472 Senior Member	The US had decades of strife because of these issues, Italy and the rest of Europe will too. It's only natural. This country has gone from an insignificant immigrant population to a genuine presence in only 5 years or so. Italy has so many success stories with immigration and is generally doing a good job (considering it is starting from zero in a sense)... and most of the recent immigrants that I know will agree. Probably more than most on this thread I'm in personal contact daily recent immigrants... the Albanian guys I shop fruit and vegetables in the piazza who are genuine friends, my Romanians friends (construction) I have lunch with a couple of times a week, the Albanian brothers who sell used furniture who sometimes join us, the Romanian lady I buy bread from, the Cuban sisters who have one of the most successful pastry shops in town (authentically Italian recipes). I helped an Albanian family with the Caritas (Catholic Charities) taking them there and acting as interpreter. So I do have some experience in seeing what that's like. And the list goes on. Although my home and work is like most urban professionals, you guys won't believe it but my friends and social life are overwhelmingly lower working class. It is my taste and my choice. So I hear stories constantly and everyone I know is happy with their decision to immigrate here. Berlusconi: he's a good 30 percent ridiculous... but his effort to protect Italy's borders are excellent.... the clandestine immigrants must be turned back. The gypsy camps must be dismantled. I agree with many of his immigration policies: including free health care on demand... no questions asked. _____ This is a fascinating article about Prato's (Florence) Chinatown... illustrating the positive and the negative: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/c...,1337042.story
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