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NIAF Picks & Pans
home >> Image & Identity >> Picks & Pans >> Fall 2002
THUMBS UP TO:
The U.S. House of Representatives for House Resolution 269, co-sponsored by Congressmen Vito Fossella (R-N.Y.) and Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), which states, "That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the life and achievements of Antonio Meucci should be recognized, and his work in the invention of the telephone should be acknowledged." Contact Congressman Fossella at (202) 225-3371.
Paulette Carpenter, Director of Communications for CBS Corporation, for being receptive to the concerns of the Italian American community. After the CBS network aired a movie entitled "Black and Blue" that negatively depicted Italian Americans, the NIAF questioned CBS's programming choices. Paulette Carpenter expressed her concern and willingness to keep the Italian American community in mind when future programming choices are made at CBS. Contact CBS Network at (212) 975-4321.
Bravo!, an Italian American employee networking group at JPMorganChase. Started in 2001, Bravo! promotes and celebrates Italian American culture and strives to acknowledge the positive contributions of Italian American employees at JPMorganChase. Contact Carmela Ottaviano at (212) 552-5470.
Total Sound Entertainment of Monmouth County, New Jersey, for addressing the concerns of the Italian American community and for removing Mafia references in its advertising. Contact Michael Pantina at (732) 583-9092.
The State of Florida's Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for ordering the recall of personalized license plates that were offensive to Italian Americans. Utilizing state guidelines that prohibit personalized plates that are either obscene and/or objectionable, plates that read "2 Dagos" were deemed an ethnic slur and subsequently recalled. Contact Robert Sanchez, Public Information Administrator of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, at (850) 488-2276.
Anthony Manetta, owner of the website formerly named GuidoShop.com, for his immediate and appropriate response to complaints about the website's name, by both changing the name of the site to ItalysFinest.com and issuing a formal apology. Manetta said in a letter to all customers and visitors of his site, "…our site GuidoShop.com is now operating under its new name, ItalysFinest.com, due to several complaints we have received regarding our name. We apologize if our name has been offensive in any way."
THUMBS DOWN:
Clyde Haberman of The New York Times for an article that commends both Italians and Jews for producing some "memorable gangsters." The article is demeaning to both Italian Americans and Jewish Americans. Comments can be sent to editorial@nytimes.com.
Wiley Miller, cartoonist, and Universal Press Syndicate for a Non Sequitur comic that showed an Italian American criminal figure in the role of Goliath in the Old Testament. The Mafia motif is an insult to Italian Americans. Contact Lee Salem, Vice President and Editorial Director, Universal Press Syndicate at 800-255-6734.
Simon & Schuster, a division of Viacom Inc., for re-issuing its "Mafia Cookbook" (first published in 1993) in a revised and expanded version. According to publicity releases, author Joseph "Joe Dogs" Iannuzzi was a low ranking member of the Gambino crime family, and in the book he intertwines stories of life in the Mafia with recipes. Contact Ginger Barton, director of lifestyle publicity, Simon & Schuster, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. Phone (212) 698-2331. On the Web: http://www.viacom.com and http://www.simonsays.com.
Uncle Ben's Rice, a brand made by Mars Inc., for the recent magazine advertisements for Uncle Ben's Pasta Bowl (a new line of food dishes featuring lasagna and ravioli made with Italian cheeses) that states, "Don't be surprised ifa youa starta talking likea thisa afterwards." Contact Jacqueline Badger Mars, Vice President, Mars Inc., 6885 Elm St., McLean, VA 22101. Phone: (703) 448-9678. On the Web: http://www.unclebens.com and http://www.mars.com.
Special thanks to Lilian Alessi, Manny Alfano, Salvatore Citino, Connie DeCaro, Joseph DeRuso, Catherine Gotti, Bob Masullo, Inez Smith, Camilla Trinchieri, Denia Varrasso, and Ines Vecchietti.
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