Casimir Pulaski was a Polish Revolutionary War hero who was killed in the Battle of Savannah. The first Monday in March is a state holiday in Illinois. Earlier today, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Judge Aurelia Pucinski used the day to continue the splinterization of America.
Pucinski is the daughter of former Congressman Roman Pucinski and she just won the Democratic primary for a seat on the state appellate court. At the annual Pulaski Day celebration at the Polish Museum of America, Pucinski sat on the dais next to U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who represents part of the territory her father used to represent.
Pucinski took the podium with Mayor Daley seated opposite her. She praised Pulaski and then questioned why Poles are under-represented in the Chicago City Council and other government bodies.
"Why are there no Poles on major boards and commissions?" Pucinski asked. "Why, on the short form for the Census are we not allowed to identify ethnic identity?"
Turning to Schakowsky, Pucinski said, "I say this with all due respect to my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Schakowsky, who has fought for this and understands the issues. But if we, and German-Americans and Italian-Americans are not allowed to properly identify ourselves, how can we be properly counted?"
Schakowsky, perhaps the most liberal member of Congress, gave a mild rebuke to Pucinski. Good for her--for once. The Census does not count members of ethnic group--it never has; although the long form sent to 10 percent of Americans does ask questions about ethnicity.
As I wrote earlier today, we need one nation--not two, not twenty.
In regards to ascertaining whether someone is a Polish-American, a last name such as Novak, Kowalski, or Pucinski is a pretty reliable indicator--no Census question is needed.
Related post:
Indiana Dunes: The Revolutionary War Battle of Le Petit Fort
Hawaii partition in the works
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