Vinman said:
looks like Italy isnt the only one with rascist/ethnic bashing fans
Unfortunately we all have certain individuals that are insensitive, bigots, racists etc etc.. Its the way of the world, Sad but true...
But we do have to look at a few things here...
For instance.. Is it irrelevant that One of Palermo's main fan groups has the Puppet motif on their own emblem ? Can they really complain as you could jus say they have taken the badge of the hammers fans and that of one of palermo's fan groups...
Did we hear you complaining when both Juve and Milan fan groups unfurled mafia related banners when palermo were in town last season ?
Or is that ok as its within italy ? If so, do we actually know the ethnicity of those that created these shirts, being that many of the sellers outside west ham are of italian descent...
For the record I do think this was wrong and an unfortunate way that many of the worlds people relate to italians and especially sicilians...
and there is much more to Sicily than the mafia...
Of course there is, Sicily is a wonderful island, But it has to be said that they dont do themselves any favours... Whilst we know the sicilian people rose up against the Mafia... It also has to be pointed out that they have not been shy to make a dollar from it either... With the numerous Mafia related souvenirs that can be bought in sicily and the Mafia tours etc that they lay on for the tourists...
Jeeks said:
I have no doubt, but this is the general image that people have.
Would you like to know why? Only because of American movies.
That's the point, Vin. Almost all American movies that are about the mafia associate the organization with Sicily. Knowing that most American movies are commercial and their main purpose to reach as many people as possible, it has become a general conception that Sicily is the home of the mafia and people start to get to ignore what's more in the island.
Whilst to a certain extent true, you moreso have to look to the italian-americans like Mario Puzo and his 100's of Italian-american copycat authors that made the subject popular and encouraged the belief of them accurately portraying the italian culture... These films were only made on the back of these authors and even then many of the film makers were also of italian descent... As such People need to look to those betraying their own roots before pointing the finger at the rest of the world.
The Pado said:
Yes, nevermind how it was the Sicilian authorities and the Palermitan people that worked so hard to eradicate the mafia from not only Palermo and Sicily but also from Sicilian culture. Nevermind the many great and brave people who lost their lives in that struggle. If it's Palermo then it's just a bunch of mobsters.
Great attitude, but unfortunately it takes decades to change the way people think.
Whilst we all know that the people of palermo rose up against the mafia and led to the capture of Toto Riina... To say the Sicilian authorities fought hard against the Mafia is pure fallacy.
Many of the mafia heads openly associated with the mayors and politicians in sicily for years, including the likes of Bontade, Inzerello, Badalamente, Riccobono and Marchese...
The sicilians authorities only came down and took notice when the presure from the mainland and of sicily's own people made their positions untenable if they didnt immediately act. They only reacted to save their own arses, not to stop a business that was making them all incredibly rich and protected men in their own right... Not to mention the fact that several known key mafia families went unpunished and continued their association with the authorities long after Riina's incarceration.
Even the arrest of Riina was laughable at best... After 30 years they eventually find 'The Beast' at a family home in Palermo... Where he had indeed been living for the duration of his time as a fugitive... During which time he had been treated under his own name at the local hospital on numerous occasions for his Diabetes and all four of his children were also medically registered under their real names in the city... Doesnt exactly seem hard to find...
Sadly, You are indeed right that it takes decades to change the way people think... But it will happen eventually
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