The U.S. Census 2020 and Romanian-Americans: An Interview with Aldous Mina
Aldous Mina was born in 1979 and grew up in Norfolk, Virginia. He is a graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia (B.S., International Business) and American InterContinental University/AIU in Schaumburg/Chicago, Illinois (MBA, International Business). He received international business training in the United Kingdom (England/London, Scotland, Wales), Ireland (Dublin) and Israel (Jerusalem).
Mr. Mina worked for the U.S. Peace Corps in Romania (economic development specialist, 2008), World Bank (financial analyst, 2011). He has served in the federal government in both Republican and Democratic administrations in Washington, DC (financial analyst and auditor, White House’s initiative on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) and private sector (contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton, Northrop Gruman, Maersk and Maximus, Premier Global Council Group).
He is the author of four books on global markets and faceconomics.
During the period of October 3 and 4, 2019, Aldous Mina attended the annual ALIANŢA/The Alliance Gala, in Washington, DC, at the Conrad Hotel and the Romanian Embassy, respectively.
On October 4, 2019, the Alianţa organization announced the launching of a new initiative, The 2020 U.S. Census Campaign, in order to encourage Romanian-Americans to mark themselves down as of Romanian-origin during the census. Estimates of Romanian-Americans in the United States vary from 800,000 to 1.5 million.
With that occasion, Mr. Mina granted me an exclusive interview.
1. Mr. Al Mina, you are running for the U.S. Senate in Virginia in 2020 and you also worked in the Peace Corps in Romania.
Yes.
2. A social media campaign has been recently launched, in order to encourage Romanian-Americans to note their heritage in the 2020 U.S. Census forms. Can you elaborate a little on the technicalities that the voters should know, in order to successfully achieve this project, in your opinion?
Yes, thank you also for having me. I believe this transition into a more inclusive society and a powerful meaning message towards the Romanian public is timely on this engagement they are currently endorsing. In terms of the Visa Waiver Program, I believe many, you know, not only Romanians, but also Americans could definitely benefit from the inter-cultural aspect of this program, as well as the economic development opportunities that are going to be available for both markets. You know, for the longest time Romania has been kept away from engaging and actively, you know, promoting the Romanian market to the world. So this is the perfect timing for us, Americans as well as Romanians, because our family and friends are Romanians, you know. And they have contributed to America just like any other countries have contributed to America. So, we shouldn’t have to disqualify a group of wonderful people that is interested in contributing and engaging the U.S. market, you know, just like any other Western European countries would. So, I think, this is the perfect time to be a part of this endeavor with this initiative, you know, the Romanian population. And also diaspora, the Romanian diaspora that are here, they need to know about their heritage, their background, and some people group, and also be able to appreciate, you know, the beauty of that heritage. And so, I am all for it. As an individual running for the U.S. Senate, this is a great opportunity for us to partake in this history making event. And, as a former Peace Corps volunteer in Romania, I believe that, if there is some social and economic inclusion, happening throughout the world, especially in Romania and the U.S., that would create a perfect union for our initiative and the diplomatic ties between the two countries.
3. Thank you so much, Sir. We continue. How do you think leaders of the Romanian-American community can help change the U.S. visa rules and maximize the count of Romanian-Americans in the U.S. Census?
I think, in order for them to really participate, I believe that they should allow the Romanian community, in general, to be actively involved. It’s good for them to, you know, provide direction and some sort of structural mechanism, because I think that’s really needed in order for them to promote this kind of incentive. But I think it has to be on the grass-root level, where every single Romanian-American and Romanians are participating. Because, at the end of the day, this is a value to the Romanian society, to the American community. So, I think, it’s in the best interest of the Romanian community to participate, you know, not just in the political sense of it, but also in being able to identify the beauty and, you know, the vibrant future of Romania through this initiative. So, that’s where I stand on this whole issue.
4. Thank you so much, Sir. The last question: what challenges will you foresee during this process?
There could be a lot of issue that might manifest itself towards, you know, this kind of initiative. But I think the American population understands that many Romanians have contributed into the American society. You know, we have loved Romanians, we have, you know, friends that are from Romania that taught us their culture and shared their history with us. We wouldn’t have been able to learn any of that if they didn’t come here and tell us. So, I think it’s time for Romania to be able to access the U.S. just like we have freedom to access Romania. And that’s what I believe. My girlfriend came over and she is like: “Well, we still have to get a visa to come to the U.S.!” It takes a long time for them to have to, you know, apply for visa and go through the process. I think if someone from Germany or France or England say they can come freely, why not Romanians? You know, they are a lot of very smart, talented Romanians that can help contribute in the process of connecting the two countries. So, they are going to be serving as a bridge. And I am all for it.
5. Very interesting, Sir. Thank you so much.
Thank you. [In Romanian] Mulţumesc frumos. Şi îmi pare bine. [Thanks a lot. And I am glad].
6. Excellent!
[In Romanian] Hai România! [You go, Romania!]
(October 16, 2019)
NOTE — Versions of the article were published in:
AMERICAN THINKER (El Cerrito/San Francisco, California) [+ comments]
***
and
CARIBBEAN NEWS GLOBAL (Brooklyn/New York City, New York) [+ views, comments]
***
and
CARIBBEAN NEWS NOW! (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas) [ comments]
***
and
CONSERVATIVE READ (Scottsdale/Phoenix, Arizona) [ comments]
***
and
INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATIVE (Phoenix, Arizona) [ comments]
and
MARIANAS VARIETY (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) [ comments]
and
MEDIUM (San Francisco, California) [100+ views; comments; 100+ likes]
and
SAIPAN TRIBUNE (Garapan/Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) [ comments]
***
and featured in:
320ro.com (Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom) [ comments]
***
and
ACCENT (Toronto, Canada) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
ACTIVE BOARD
***
and
AFRO-CONSCIOUS MEDIA (Canada; Long Beach, California) [ comments]
***
and
ALTERNATIVA/THE ALTERNATIVE (Toronto, Canada) (_________ 2018) [in Romanian] [NOTE = scroll down on the journal’s home page to get the article and then press OPEN on the article]
***
and
ARMONIA/THE HARMONY (Hickory/Charlotte, North Carolina) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and also
ARMONIA MAGAZINE/THE HARMONY MAGAZINE (Hickory/Charlotte, North Carolina) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
BLUNT FORCE TRUTH (Detroit, Michigan) [ comments]
***
and
BURNING PLATFORM [ comments]
***
and
CARIBBEAN POST (Santiago, Dominican Republic) [ comments]
***
and
CLICK ROMANIA (London, United Kingdom) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
CURENTUL/THE CURRENT (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
CURENTUL INTERNAŢIONAL/THE INTERNATIONAL CURRENT (Sterling Heights/Detroit, Michigan) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
FIWEH (Okinawa, Japan) [ comments]
***
and
FREE REPUBLIC (Fresno, California) [ comments]
***
and
GÂNDACUL DE COLORADO/THE COLORADO BEETLE (Estes Park/Denver, Colorado) [in Romanian] [ + views; comments]
***
and
GOP BRIEFING ROOM [ + views; comments]
***
and
INVESTORS HUB (London, United Kingdom) [ comments]
***
and
JURNAL DE CHIŞINĂU/CHIŞINĂU JOURNAL (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
LUCIANNE.COM (Cliffside Park, New Jersey) [ + comments]
***
and
LUMEA ROMÂNEASCĂ/THE ROMANIAN WORLD (Grand Rapids, Michigan) [in Romanian]
***
and
MENAFN (Amman, Jordan)
***
and
MERIDIANUL ROMÂNESC/THE ROMANIAN MERIDIAN (Santa Clarita/Los Angeles, California) [in Romanian]
***
and
MEXICAN OCCUPATION
***
and
MIORIŢA USA (Sacramento, California) [in Romanian]
***
and also
MIORIŢA USA (Sacramento, California), printed edition [in Romanian]
***
and
MOLDOVA9/NEW MOLDOVA (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
MOLDOVA ŞTIRI/MOLDOVA NEWS (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] (300+ views; comments]
***
and
MORNING IN ARIZONA [ comments]
***
and
NAŢIUNEA/THE NATION (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
NEW YORK MAGAZIN/NEW YORK MAGAZINE (New York City, New York) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
OBSERVATORUL/THE OBSERVER (Toronto, Canada) [in Romanian]
***
and
OCCIDENTUL ROMÂNESC/ROMANIAN WEST (Madrid, Spain)
***
and
OFICIAL/OFFICIAL (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
PARADIGMS AND DEMOGRAPHICS (Cleveland, Ohio) [ comments]
***
and
PROTECTORS OF LIBERTY (Mount Pleasant, Michigan) [ comments]
***
and
QOSHE (Netherlands & Turkey)
***
and
QWIKET (Kingston, New York) [ comments]
***
and
ROMANIA JOURNAL (Bucharest, Romania) [ + views; comments]
***
and
ROMANIAN TIMES (Portland, Oregon) [in Romanian]
and also
ROMANIAN TIMES (Portland, Oregon) (print edition, p. 14) [in Romanian]
and
SAVE AMERICA FOUNDATION (Clearwater, Florida)
***
and
TAPATALK (Santa Monica/Los Angeles, California) [ comments]
***
and
TIMP ROMÂNESC/ROMANIAN TIME (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
TRIBUNA/THE TRIBUNE (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [ comments]
***
and also
TRIBUNA/THE TRIBUNE (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
TRIBUNA ROMÂNEASCĂ/ROMANIAN TRIBUNE (Chicago, Illinois) [in Romanian] [ comments]
***
and
TRULY TIMES [ + views, comments]
***
and
TRUMP’S MINUTEMEN (Fort Worth, Texas)
***
and
UNIMEDIA (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian] [ + views, comments]
***
and
US POLITICS 10z [ comments]
***
and
ZIARUL DE GARDĂ/THE GUARD NEWSPAPER (Chişinău, Republic of Moldova) [in Romanian]
***
and referenced in:
BIZMAKER (Slatina, Romania) [in Romanian]
and
CENTRUL DE PRESĂ — PRESSPEDIA/THE PRESS CENTER — PRESSPEDIA (Bucharest, Romania) [in Romanian] [+ views]
***
and
CURENTUL INTERNAŢIONAL/INTERNATIONAL CURRENT — FACEBOOK (Sterling Heights/Detroit, Michigan) [in Romanian]
***
and
HUMAN RIGHTS QUARTERLY (Cincinnati, Ohio)
***
and
LIBERAL FORUM
***
and
MUCK RACK (New York, New York)
***
and
OBAMA LIES
***
and
PRESS RUSH (Turku, Finland)
***
and
THY BLACK MAN [ comments]
***
and
ZENITH NEWS (Duluth, Minnesota)
***
NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS = 5
*****
