Sicilian Culture: News: Commenting on Italian People UPDATED w/APOLOGY

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Sicilian Culture

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Commenting on Italian People
By Hansen Alexander, St. Augustine Record
Opinion:
October 7, 2001 - - Tomorrow's Columbus Day celebration will go forth undeterred by the fact that the Genoese mariner helped Spain, not Italy, stake a claim to the Americas. The holiday has come to celebrate that which is Italian, or more specifically, that which is southern Italian.
Most Italians who immigrated to the United States came in the late 19th century and early 20th century and they came from southern Italy, a region that even today remains far poorer than the rest of the country. And so that which we think of as Italian in this country, tomato based foods like thin pizza, the notorious Mafia, poor fishermen like Joe DiMaggio's father, comes from southern Italy.
There will be no emphasis tomorrow on recognizing northern Italian traditions, such as the industrial might of Milan, the intellectual heritage of its great universities at Bologna and Padua, or the breathtaking creative genius of Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galileo, Dante, Bocaccio. No, tomorrow, unfortunately, will be about cheap wine and stereotypical visions of Italians as a congregation of vigilantes.
The appeal to Americans of Italians seems to be the notion that Italians, to use Hitler's rueful phrase, "would sell their country down the river to save their families." That is the idea that they get even with a personal vendetta rather than being shackled by the usual constraints of legal process. That no doubt accounts for the popularity of movies like The Godfather and the television series, "The Sopranos." It also seems to account for the results of a recent poll that showed that Americans would prefer being Italian more than any other ethnic group.
In a disturbing paradox, polls also show that Italian-Americans are the least trusted ethnic group to serve in leadership positions. That no doubt reflects the taint of the Mafia and is an unfair prejudice.
But strategists of both major U.S. parties admit privately that they do not believe that an Italian-American, particularly one from the Northeast, could be elected president of the United States. And that is why many political analysts believe former New York Governor Mario Cuomo dropped out of the 1992 New Hampshire Primary literally hours before the filing deadline.
Discussing ethnic traits, of course, involves making generalizations about people, always a risky enterprise that can lead to unfair stereotypes. But man is a social animal. Therefore, family traditions, customs of cultures, are reflected in the personalities and accomplishments of people.
It is no accident that the great theoretical tract of Italian politics, Machiavelli's The Prince, is advice to rulers on executive action, not a polemic on democratic cooperation. Italian statesmen and Italian-American statesmen tend to make good leaders in positions where they can use their creativity and imagination to make tough decisions on their own.
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's guarantee to "make the trains run on time" remains a metaphor for efficiency nearly 60 years after his death. Italian leaders tend to be authoritarian and individualistic.
They make good governors, good mayors and good judges in the United States.
They do not shine, however, in situations where leadership requires building a collegial consensus. For example, there has never been a speaker of the House or Senate majority leader of Italian heritage.
Watergate produced New Jersey's Peter Rodino, who presided in impressive fashion over the House Judiciary Committee. But the other prominent Italian-American of the era, Judge John Sirica, served in more typical fashion as a federal judge in several trials of White House defendants.
Italians tend to be good speakers and good writers who are not bashful about extolling their own talents. They have trouble adjusting to the American political tradition of dumbing down. And they do not hesitate to put their Italian customs on a higher plane than more recent democratic traditions.
Silvio Berlusconi was elected prime minister of Italy in May. Berlusconi is already disliked throughout Europe for his heavy-handed style and tendency for making undiplomatic comments.
At a time in which President Bush has been bending over backwards to be cordial to the Islamic world in order to build a coalition to fight terrorism, Berlusconi said last week that Western civilization was superior to that of the Islamic world.
New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has demonstrated both his executive talents and authoritarian tendencies during and after the devastating disaster at the World Trade Center. Giuliani has handled the crisis with great competence and courage, reminding us of Churchill after the London Blitz as he walked through the rubble before the collapse of the second tower, literally risking his life. But now Giuliani is reluctant to give up power and so argues for extending his term.
Giuliani's mayoral role model, Fiorello La Guardia, was a one-man band, too.
Giuliani's whole career has been a demonstration of energetic accomplishment accompanied by heavy-handed methods and a fondness for New York's bright lights. When he was as a famous federal prosecutor he exhibited his white collar defendants before television cameras in handcuffs, an indignity almost never inflicted on white collar criminals. As mayor, he has demonstrated a fondness for executive orders, such as the present restriction on single-occupant cars into Manhattan, which do not require City Council approval. Faced with the political option last year of giving up the Italian tradition of having a mistress or staying in the U.S. Senate race against Hillary Clinton, Giuliani chose his mistress and openly flaunted her at official City Hall functions.
The greatest American orator of the last quarter century, Mario Cuomo, is mainly remembered today for feuding with fellow New York Democrats and a disinterest in rebuilding the party in New York State.
The one American who could probably match Cuomo's rhetorical skills is the Supreme Court's brilliant and pugnacious Italian-American conservative, Antonin Scalia. Scalia is obviously frustrated in a job where he has only one vote and openly insults the intelligence of his colleagues, particularly Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
APOLOGY
My deepest admiration goes out to the very eloquent and effective initial Emails that Professor Gerard ROSA and Professor Emeritus James MANCUSO sent, (that I previously shared with you), and Mancuso's subsequent exchange of numerous Emails with the Editor, in which James Mancuso was not satisified with the original personal regrets expressed by the Editor, nor the personal apology of the Editor, but insisted on a Printed Apology, which was then promised, and printed today. See Below.
Just below the Formal Frinted Apology is a somewhat more personal and down to earth apology sent to to
I have also been advised that two outstanding Italian Americans Novelists, Roland Merullo and Eugene Mirabelli also Emailed the Editor of the St. Augustine Record. The I-A Community is grateful for persons of their stature to lend their efforts to our fight. See their Emails further below.
Also, I thought Dominic Tassone sent a Letter that I was very impressed with
It follows Merullo and Mirabelli below.
Another Small Victory, in a continuing String and more Frequently enjoyed, and another Example of the Power of the Word/Email!!
I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the efforts of the members of IAOV, and La Dolce Vita, and particularly those of Angelo Frangapane, and Steve Antonuccio, among others.
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APOLOGY
By Jim Baltzelle, Editor
St Augustine Record
October 9, 2001
Editorial Page
The St. Augustine Record and freelance writer Hansen Alexander wish to apologize for publishing an article Sunday that offended Italian-Americans because of its use of generalizations.
The Record has received calls and e-mails from people disturbed by the article, which appeared on Page 5A. Its publication was timed to coincide with the celebration of Columbus Day on Monday.As the column pointed out, generalizations about people are always dangerous.
The Record and Alexander are sorry the article was published, especially at a time when Americans have been reminded of the importance of respecting all peoples.
staugustine.com: Opinions & Letters: Apology 10/09/01
www.staugustine.com/stories/100901/opi_201315.shtml
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To Mr. Bonaffini
From Jim Baltzelle
Our news staff is diverse in age and ethnicity. (Incredibly, one of the editors who reviewed the piece is of Italian heritage, as is the freelance writer who submitted it.)
Publication of the article involved, but is in no way excused by, the stresses of moving an office, which has been in one location for more than 100 years, while at the same time laboring over tremendous news events on a new computer system. Combine that with aregular Sunday freelance column that has, to this point, never been controversial in the least.
With that background, gross negligence occurred in the editing process.
The story should have been rejected. There are no acceptable excuses.
I am to blame.
Jim Baltzelle

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