IT'S A CULTURAL THING: I AM ITALIAN. - GOVERNOR CUOMO

ICHEOKU says like Dorothy said to Toto that she has a feeling that they are not in Kansas anymore, Governor Andrew Cuomo should have advised himself accordingly that the New York State governor's mansion is in Albany and not in Palermo or Sicily nor Roma. Therefore, those "Italian" special way of conducting "meet and greet" should have been checked at the door; or better still, left alone. Since it was not  abandoned in the old country alongside other things "so very peculiar" to Italians, he should have just reserved it for only when meeting his Italian folks. That everybody loves pizza, the Sopranos, Ferrari and other great gifts which Italians gave the world, does not mean that everything Italian must therefore be thrown in the bag. 

To plant kisses on non Italians without first finding out if it was an acceptable manner of "meet and greet" to them, is somewhat forcing every head into a one cap fits all. It was an Italian hospitality and endearment gone too far; and it is doubtful if he would have personally liked to be greeted in a manner which some other peculiar cultures greet themselves. For example, some cultures greet people by prostrating fully, belly on the ground and forehead touching the ground. In some cultures too, a man shows how much he loves his visitor by offering them his wife for the night. So, should we all now start exhibiting our peculiar cultures just because that is the way it was in our respective old countries. 

How about the melting pot America or are some cultures finding it difficult to blend into the brew. The governor should probably stop talking and speaking on the matter facing him now and hire a professional spokes person and public relations expert to do the talking on his behalf, going forward. A statement that he is Italian, the reason he kisses people, rubs people on the wrong side.  It is a cheeky cheap attempt to wriggle out of whatever logjam he is currently in with those  #MeToo restless souls out to take him down. How about some cultures which strictly forbids such contact between people who are not in marital or love relationship; or could he have dared plant kisses on a wife of a Taliban or even any Muslim. 

Going forward, the governor should start practicing a "safe meet and greet", the acceptable manner of greeting in a multi cultural society America, with people from diverse cultures, many of which does not see kissing as a way of greeting or even saying hello, talk-less of an expression of affectionate and show of endearment to total strangers in a work environment. Although coronavirus Dr Anthony Fauci has banned handshakes, just saying hello or waving from a respectful social distance will as well suffice until such time that the good old doctor will in his infinite mercy lift the ban on handshake. 

ICHEOKU says fully understands Governor Andrew Cuomo's position that he did not mean any harm to these women, but acted innocently. That should be the extent of giving him the benefit of doubt but he should not labor to explain himself any further, either justifying what happened or reasoning with the public about it. Those women said that they are not happy that he cheek-kissed them, he has apologized and the rest of the people should move on and leave the process play itself out. There is nothing more to see there, except the political hit job which is much in play, geared towards forcing the governor out of contention for the 2024 Democratic Party's presidential primaries. 

Hopefully, the court will finally have an opportunity to sit in judgment over the allegations and resolve them however they see fit. Until then, Governor Andrew Cuomo remains innocent until proved guilty, except that the political machination might have him removed before we can reach the threshold of a court's pronouncement on the matter. It is sad what his coronavirus fame has done to him, rising to relative obscurity of just a New York State governor to a Pandemic Hero of the left and now being dragged through the sewer of sexual harassment allegation which eventually might seal his fate as governor of New York. But hey, the liberal left can devour themselves for all any conservative cares. It is their bed and as they made it, so will they lie on it.