Great debates happening on Facebook yesterday and today regarding the recent discussions on new reality shows and the negative depictions on Italian Americans. My stance is this, I believe many people have the right to be what they want, act the way the want and do what they want. Now, I'm not saying I condone or love that the free world now thinks all Italian Americans are the same..they're not--and that's OK. But that is the real "REALITY." If you have half a brain then you know this fact.
A really good point brought up by one of the Facebook-ers was-- where were the Italian American organizations when positive material, shows, content were being produced...? Not one press release blast went out or any 5 minute segment was covered on any local station. The same amount of energy that goes into the 15 minutes of fame for crying/complaining and saying people are racists should go into promoting the positive work we're all creating for the Italian American community.
I question the motives of others for getting on the press bandwagon and riding it all the way to the top by saying you're protecting the image of the Italian Americans, to me it sounds like you're condemning people for being who they really are.
If anyone, I mean anyone meaning myself, you can't get any more Italian American than me.. I am a first generation Italian American, my father came here on a ship over 50 years ago. My mother followed soon after. He struggled, he had nothing, he worked his ass off, he too was stereotyped.
Not once did my parents look for fame, fortune or any 15 minutes of a news segment, they're true revenge on the finger pointers was getting their family to be successful. The success of our family is what truly makes our story. So, forget about all the press, the TV, the un-reality of being Italian American, cause really if you haven't lived it or experienced it..you shouldn't be adding your two cents. Sorry. I direct this to those who think they're protecting the Italian American image.
I say, take the same resources, money, staff whatever else is available and use it to promote --not talk about the same negative BS on and on.
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1 comment:
Im still confused as to why italian AMERICAN is such a big thing. There are also millions of other people with italian parents from different countries around the world. I am a British Italian, my parents were born in italy, but i dont harp about being italian etc. Why do italian americans feel the need to broadcast this fact to the world and on the internet?? Italian american is its own brand of american culture. Your parents behaviour very likely became americanised and their true italianisms will have been diluted over the years, like my own parents.
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