NIAF, is a prominent member of the newly formed CARRES (Coalition Against Racial, Religious and Ethnic Stereotyping) and as the more reserved of the "Big Three" Major Italian American organizations, and being in the unenviable position of recently having given Robert DeNiro an Award, it took a great deal of Courage and Integrity to "search their soul" and take this Commendable Stance.

To me, the Recent actions on the part of the Italian American Major Organizations to
(1) Form CARRES
(2) For CARRES to CONDEMN "Shark Tale"
(3) For First OSIA, then NIAF to express their Opposition to the Italian Government
       of the Prospective Presenting  of Honorary Citizenship to Robert DeNiro
are "Milestones" in the AWAKENING of  the Italian American Community to the Battle that MUST be Fought vs the Bigotry, and Negative Stereotypical Depictions foisted on the Italian American Community!

I call upon the "Major Three" to forthwith cease making ANY Charitable Contributions
to ANY Non Italian Charities, and INSTEAD dedicate those same Funds to this Anti- Defamation Battle!!!!!!

In furtherance of this, I encourage every member of NIAF, OSIA, and UNICO to send an Email to your National President, with a copy to your Local Chapter, Suggesting Strongly that in order to Fight this Battle SERIOUSLY, we will NEED the Funding, and Non Italian Charities is the area, from which it can be JUSTIFIABLY Taken, and can be IMMEDIATELY Available!!!!   Enlist your fellow Members!!!!

IF We are Serious, then this MUST be Done NOW, and Then, CARRES must convene to determine additional Sources of Revenue, Strategies, Tactics, and Priorities.......

We FINALLY have reached a Critical Degree of Unanimity!!!!! Now the NEXT Step!!!!!

Yahoo News
WASHINGTON, PRNewswire
Thursday, October 28, 2004

October 27, 2004

Mr. Robert De Niro
Stan Rosenfield Public Relations
2029 Century Park East, 1240
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Dear Mr. De Niro:

On behalf of the National Italian American Foundation, we are writing to you to express our extreme disappointment and feelings of betrayal relating to your role in DreamWorks SKG and DreamWorks Animation SKG's animated children's film, Shark Tale.

After honoring you with the coveted NIAF award, we cannot understand why you could neither comprehend nor accept the negative effect of this film on children.

We appreciate the entertainment value of satire but find it entirely inappropriate to confuse satire with negative stereotyping, especially when the work is in an animated film that is both targeted and marketed to children.

Numerous studies, including both the Miller/ADL and Zogby, have concluded that negative stereotyping targeted at young children has a long- lasting damaging effect.

DreamWorks Animation SKG's contention that Shark Tale "pokes fun at a number of film genres" and does not solely stereotype Italian Americans but other ethnic and racial groups, does not justify marketing the film to children.

We condemn negative stereotyping and prejudice in any form.

Finally, your insulting and intemperate comments in response to criticism of your involvement with Shark Tale by the Italian American community are entirely inappropriate, insensitive, and disrespectful.

For a man of your professional stature we would have expected a more reasoned and civil discourse. For all of these reasons, we are advising the Government of the Republic of Italy to not extend to you the privilege of honorary citizenship.

Sincerely,
Hon. Frank J. Guarini
Chairman

RESOLUTION: THE POSITION OF THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION ON THE DREAMWORKS FILM SHARK TALE

* Whereas, Shark Tale, an animated film by DreamWorks SKG and DreamWorksAnimation SKG, continues a sordid history of negative stereotyping ofItalian Americans and other ethnic groups; and

* Whereas, Shark Tale is being targeted and marketed to young children who are
our most vulnerable population; and

* Whereas, numerous research, including the Miller/ADL and Zogby studies clearly demonstrate the damage negative ethnic stereotyping has on children; and

* Whereas, Steven Spielberg has shown himself to be hypocritical and insensitive regarding his use of ethnic, religious, and racial stereotyping has on children; and

* RESOLVED, the National Italian American Foundation unanimously condemns Shark Tale, DreamWorks Animation SKG and DreamWorks SKG, and its founders on promoting ethnic bigotry and defamation.

Dated: October 15, 2004

Contact:Steve Aiello
Hill and Knowlton
(212) 885 0340
saiello@hillandknowlton.com
Press Release
Source: National Italian American Foundation

National Italian American Foundation Unanimously Votes to Oppose Honorary Itali
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/041028/nyth087_1.html