Sicilian Culture: The News & Views: LYCOS accused of Defaming Italians and Jews

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LYCOS Accused of Defaming Italians & Jews
Perhaps most of you are aware of the heavily run LYCOS TV ad that features an obviously Italian American Family, at first impression appearing to be "stealing" furniture, while under FBI surveillance. The punch line is that the IAs actually "acquired" the furniture from the Lycos "Auction Site", that provides a receipt, that the mother gleefully waves in the direction of the vigilant FBI agents........ Really Bad Taste......but little reaction from the Italian American Community.
On the other hand, The International Jewish Community is being mobilized by a comment of the Lycos CEO, who was "alleged" to say to a Management meeting, "Jews...have always tried to cheat me".
Curiously enough he also goes on to cast negative aspersions on Sicilians by allegedly stating, "If anyone has problems with Jews, let me know because I have some cousins in Sicily who will take care of them."
It is true that some Italians have "take care of people".
It is equally true that some Jews "cheat".
But please notice the difference of the reactions of the two communities Special attention to those people who feel IAs shouldn't be "so sensitive" about continual slander from the Media, that reaches millions of people, as opposed to a comment made in a private setting.
The excerpted article is below:
TheStandard.com
TERRA LYCOS CHIEF ACCUSED OF MAKING RACIST REMARK
By Daniel Helft
A published report accusing Terra Lycos chairman Joaquim Agut of making anti-Semitic remarks is causing a furor in Spain and within the company. Agut and the company have denied the report. However, it is being taken seriously because the report was written by Jesus Cacho, Spain's foremost financial journalist and bestselling author, and published in Epoca, a respected Spanish weekly magazine.
According to the article, Agut made anti-Jewish remarks at a recent dinner party attended by 20 of his top executives. At the meal, Agut allegedly told his management team that he was forbidding doing business with Jews.
"Throughout my life I have done business with Jews and they have always tried to cheat me," he was reported as saying. He added: "If anyone has problems with Jews, let me know because I have some cousins in Sicily who will take care of them."
The story couldn't be independently confirmed.
The allegations were soon reprinted on an independent Spanish news site Ibrujala.com. On Wednesday, Agut tried to defuse the controversy by issuing a denial in the form of a letter to Epoca. The comments attributed to him are "unthinkable under any logic," he wrote.
A spokesman for Terra Lycos in Barcelona reiterated Agut's denial.
Although the story hasn't surfaced yet in the U.S., several Terra Lycos executives said the reports are whirling around the company on both sides of the Atlantic, and has also reached at least one Wall Street analyst, who asked not be named but speculated: "If Jewish organizations come down hard on this incident, the leadership structure at Terra Lycos will again be up in the air.
Jewish businessman in Spain are already talking of a boycott of Terra Lycos and Jewish groups there are looking seriously into the matter and could seek the support of international Jewish organizations.
This latest controversy couldn't come at a worse time for Terra Lycos. The company is trying to regroup after losing CEO Bob Davis and COO Abel Linares in the past month - both victims of a power struggle with Agut - and Wall Street confidence is at an all-time low.
Shares are trading at about $11, down more than 35 percent since Davis' departure in early February. Analysts say the leadership void has kept the company from moving forward with new products or acquisitions that could help it compete with, AOL, Yahoo and MSN........
TheStandard.com: Terra Lycos Chief Accused of Making Anti-Semitic Remark
thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,22735,00.html

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