Letters to the Editor

August 2004

Dear Editor
At the present time there is being shown in local theaters, a children's animated film called "Shark Tale". Stephen Spielberg and his studio "Dream Works" cooked up this movie which involves fish, mostly sharks which promote violence, underwater involvement of "mafia" style crime, rage, kidnapping, murder and extortion and promoting these as a virtuous behavior while the dialogue contains Italian dialect phrases such as those used in the "Godfather" films and involves the voices of Robert DiNiro, Martin Scorsese and members of that TV show "Sopranos".

Attempts have been made by various organizations to have Spielberg de-Italianize the names, vocabulary, and mannerisms of these sharks. All to no avail. This issue is about propagandizing children - our children and grandchildren. This movie should not be showing any ethnic overtones! It is also their selfish and greedy desire to bring about toys, games, and video/DVD's to be sold around the world. What sort of message is this giving our children? It instills bigotry, stereotyping and defamation which will affect children for years to come if not brought to a halt.

Obviously Spielberg and his money hungry cronies care little about ruining the heritage of Italian-Americans and the negative results it develops in children now and in the future. Not only should we boycott the film starting now. Because of decades of "mafia" movies and T.V. Shows most people see someone with an Italian name as "ethnic" rather than "all American". This is the same bigotry the movie industry used on African-Americans and Nazi's used on Jewish people.

Is this what we want the children of the future to learn?

Mr. Speilberg recently stated to the public about the dangers to children of stereotyping when he had received congressional funding (our tax money) to "teach tolerance". Such hypocrisy. He laughs at us as he steals our money. This shows the lack of respect he has for all Americans.

Financial loss is the only way we can cripple and awaken them to learn America is not to be built on bigotry and hatred toward any group of citizens. Mr. Spielberg had gone out of his way in the past in movies he produced to prove his insensitivity toward Italian-Americans.

It's time for all of us to put an end to TV shows and movies which show lack of concern about not only Italian-Americans but all who love and live in these United States of America.

I am proud to be born here in America of Sicilian loving parents - am a registered nurse and a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order. We should not allow anyone to take away the opportunities and freedoms we are guaranteed by the Constitution. Stand up and speak out for our rights which our ancestors worked so hard to obtain for us - (their future). Thank you.

Sincerely,
Italia Louise Tortorelli

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