FW: [I_A_One_Voice] Digest Number 731

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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2004 01:30:54 -0000
From: "dege59"
Subject: The Alfano Digest, June 28, 04

1. CARVAGGIO LINKED TO THE SOPRANOS

2. SHARK TALE, WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP

3. ITALY'S PARMALAT SCANDAL

4. BOOOKS FOR ITALIAN AMERICAN CHILDREN

5. ITALIAN AMERICANS NOT A MINORITY

6. MEN OF THE CLOTH PRESENTATION



CARVAGGIO LINKED TO THE SOPRANOS

"No Wonder People Think Caravaggio is a Guy on the Sopranos", this
was the Americans for the Arts ad title in the June 20 issue of the
New York Times. The ad went on with more defamatory statements not
only connecting Caravaggio, the great Italian Baroque artist to the
Sopranos, but to Mario Puzo's novels as well. "But does the average
kid on the street even know who Caravaggio is? Fuhgedaboudit." Was
another ill chosen phrase used in the ad. However the most
offensive was the caption under a portrait of Caravaggio
reading, "Honestly, he wouldn't last ten minutes on the Sopranos."

Thanks to Professor Luigi Bonifini who spotted the ad there was a
huge response from the ever uniting Italian American community.
Letters of protest were sent by NIAF, OSIA, IAOV, UNOCO and Italian
American Pride which sent a letter containing this excerpt; "Let's
give you the substitution test and see if you'd have printed this
ad: Replace Michelangelo Mersi da Caravaggio with Marc Chagall,
a.k.a. Mark Zakharovich Shagal and use the Yiddish phrase of "oi
vai" instead of fuhgedaboudit. Rewrite the caption to
read. "Honestly, he wouldn't last ten minutes as Shylock in
Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice." How do you think the Jewish
American community would have reacted?

We urge all who read about this ad to join our protest and ask for
the ad to be pulled.

Please contact: Nina Ozlu Vice President, Government and Public
Affairs at: nozlu@artsusa.org

You can also call to register your protest at: 212 223 2787 or 202
371 2830

Or write to:
Robert Lynch, Executive
Director
Americans for the Arts
1000 Vermont Ave NW - Sixth Floor
Washington, DC 20005


SHARK TALE, WHAT YOU CAN DO THE HELP

Message from OSIA

Make your voice heard with a short letter to the opinion leaders and
decision-makers below. Stress that Shark Tale will pass on damaging
stereotypes of Italian Americans as violent gangsters to
impressionable children. Keep your letter to one page. Be careful
not to offend any other ethnic group to make your point!

. Write to your local elementary school principal, urging him
or her not to allow DreamWorks' curriculum to be used in the
classroom.

. Send a Letter to the Editor to your local daily and weekly
newspapers, expressing your concern about the negative ethnic
stereotyping that children will learn in Shark Tale

. Contact your U.S. Congressional representative and two U.S.
senators, asking them to criticize Shark Tale from the floor of the
House and Senate. [To contact your representative or senators, call
202/224 3121.]

. Write to the CEOs of DreamWorks' marketing partnerships, telling
them you will not buy any product of theirs that promotes Shark
Tale. [See below.]

NOTE: This is the most serious threat to our dignity and to our
children. If the Shark Tale film is allowed to be released as
presently scripted the consequences will go far beyond the damage
already done by the Sopranos. We implore all to become actively
involved in this campaign and to speak out against this impending
film before it is released. Please take a few minutes to contact at
least one company on the following listing.

Shark Tale Marketing Partners

Brad Blum - Chief Executive Officer, Burger King Corporation 5505 Blue
Lagoon Drive Miami, FL 33126

Stephen W. Sanger - Chief Executive Officer, General Mills, Inc P.O. Box
1113 Minneapolis, MN 55440-1113

Douglas N. Daft
Chief Executive Officer
The Coca-Cola Company
P.O. Box 1734
Atlanta, GA 30918

Scott Livengood- Chief Executive Officer, Krispy Kreme
PO Box 83
Winston-Salem, NC 27103

Rhoda Olsen-President and Chief Operating Officer, Great Clips Great
Clips, Inc. 7700 France Ave, Suite 425 Minneapolis, MN 55435

Carleton S. (Carly) Fiorina-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
HP
3000 Hanover Street
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185









ITALY'S PARMALAT SCANDAL

Although it will be more than a year before those involved in one of
the biggest cases of corporate fraud in European history are brought
to trial, the impact of the Parmalat scandal can be seen throughout
the economic landscape. Food giant Parmalat, Italy's eighth-largest
industrial empire, collapsed late last year amid fraud accusations
against top company executives and scandal involving several major
players from the world of international finance.

Several changes in governmental oversight of business practices in
Italy are taking shape, all allegedly intended to "clean up" the
system which led to shoddy practices. But while the changes will
likely make Italy more palatable to international finance, an
innocent party-the international working class, beginning with
15,000 Parmalat employees who face the loss of their jobs-will be
the ones punished.

Note. The only Parmalat employees who have been creating the any
real wealth for the company are the ones who will be let go.


BOOOKS FOR ITALIAN AMERICAN CHILDREN

Books for children on Italian/Italian American themes are available
but not widely distributed on the shelves of bookstores, libraries
or even in our homes. The influence of children's literature upon
the psyches of the young is known to be significant. The books have
to be present and be used in order to effect any positive influence
upon the children. The positive images of Italian heritage can be
learned during childhood via books read to them at bedtime, picture
and resource books being available on the shelves of their homes and
libraries, and giving them gift books for birthdays and holidays.
Positive self-esteem about their Italian Heritage can help children
withstand the barrage of negative ethnic stereotyping in the media
they will encounter later on.
For more information and a listing of recommended books please go
to: http://www.sonsofitalypa.org/booklist.htm


ITALIAN AMERICANS NOT A MINORITY

In the Philadelphia case of Joseph Ricco (real name Joseph Gavel)
six Italian Americans were excluded from serving because of their
ethnicity. Although protested, the court ruled that Italian
Americans could be excluded since they are not considered to have
minority status. Please read the following and come to your own
conclusion.

Ethnicity and race: General indexes

Typically, members of a minority group share a sense of solidarity
and a desire to preserve their culture, traditions, religion, or
language. A minority group can sometimes be a numerical majority in
a minority group position. Minority group status is not a matter of
numbers; it is determined by the presence of distinguishing features
such as discrimination. Central features characterizing a minority
group are:
. The members of a minority group suffer various disadvantages
at the hand of another group;
. A minority group is identified by group characteristics that
are socially visible;
. A minority is a self-conscious group with a strong sense
of "oneness";
. People usually do not become members of a minority group
voluntarily; they are born into it;
. By choice or necessity, members of a minority group tend to
marry within the group."


MEN OF THE CLOTH PRESENTATION

The Genius of Vicki Vasilopoulos was clearly evident at the private
screening of her documentary, "Men of the Cloth". The work in
progress was presented at the Coccia Institute for the Italian
Experience in America at the Montclair State University in New
Jersey.

It is indeed a credit to Ms, Vasilopolous' talent for taking a
mundane topic as tailoring and turning it into a work of art. The
documentary was filmed in the United States and in Italy and is
being funded by grants and donations. NIAF is a principal grantor.
Additional funding is needed to complete this story of a fading art. The
film is expected to be aired across the U.S and Europe. PBS is
a likely outlet for this splendid documentary.