Spielberg's "Shark's Tale", is an assault not only on the Italian American community, BUT on it's Most vulnerable, our children!!!!

The Italic Institute was the First to step up to challenge this "abomination", and with their persistence, their organizational allies have grown in number, And they deserve more.

Italic Institutes rallying cry have inspired a wave of messages from incensed and insulted Italian Americans, many that I have had the pleasure of reading, that makes me so proud of some of us.

There are so many worthy of republication, but for the moment, I am going to transmit just two of those letters in tandem.

The first is from Congressman Bill Pascrell of New Jersey, in this Report, and the second in the following Report from Professor Ben Lawton of Purdue.

After reading them, can you resist spending a moment to also courteously express your indignation to Spielberg?

Please CC:
(1) Italic Institute at << ItalicOne@aol.com >>   and
(2) Italian American One Voice (IAOV)  at  << eaa097@aol.com  >>
(3) Bill Pascrell  << bill.pascrell@mail.house.gov >>
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Bill Pascrell, Jr.
Member of Congress
8TH  District, New Jersey
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives

January 9, 2004

Mr. Steven Spielberg
Dreamworks
PO Box 8520
Universal City, CA 91608

Dear Mr. Spielberg,

I am writing to you to express my concerns about an upcoming children's
animated film entitled "Shark Tale."  As a Congressman of Italian descent and an
American proud of our nation's cultural diversity, I have strong feelings about
the negative presentation of Italian Americans in the media. News reports
suggest that "Shark Tale" will further this stereotypical perception.

The Italian American community is comprised of 25 million diverse people,
making it the fifth largest ethnic group in the nation. Yet all too often, our
heritage and culture goes unnoticed, or is the subject of gross
misrepresentation. The media saturates the public with images depicting only the worse stereotypes. A recent poll reported that 78% of teens associate Italians with
blue-collar jobs or the mob, as do 74% of the adults. Reality suggests something
quite different. In fact, less than  .0025% of Italian Americans are involved in
organized crime, according to the Justice Department, while 67% work in
white-collar jobs.

While these stereotypes are encouraged by popular shows and films, I fear they will be further and needlessly promoted to our youth with "Shark  Tale." There is nothing to be gained by teaching our children prejudices of  any group. Rather, we will continue to pay the cost of fear and discrimination.

I am a great admirer of your work. Your past experience in promoting cultural
awareness and diversity, especially in your pursuit of Holocaust awareness,
are especially laudatory. However, as a responsible filmmaker and American, I
would urge you to see that cultural sensitivities are considered before the
production of  "Shark Tale" is completed

Thank you for your attention to this matter. If I may be of assistance to you
in the future, please feel free to let me know.

Sincerely,

Bill Pascrell Jr.
Member of Congress

Cc. Jack Valenti of Motion Picture Association
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THE ITALIC INSTITUTE
 
 

To promote the study and use of the Italian and Latin languages.
To disseminate information through the various media, the arts, and literature    concerning things Italic for the education of the general public.
To encourage a broader understanding of modern Italy: its people and customs.
To foster research into the history of Italy and the Italic and Etruscan people.
To produce and support events and studies that explore the impact of the Latin and Italic culture on societies throughout the world.
To enlighten the public concerning Italian immigration throughout the ages and its influence.
To explore the political, social, and economic impact of the nation of Italy on today's world.
To defend the Italic culture, in every manner, against distortions, exploitation, and negative or demeaning uses.
To foster the intellectual growth of Italian Americans.
To explore and disseminate the accomplishments of the Italian diaspora throughout history.
To promote the humanist values of Italic Civilization.

http://www.italic.org