Tuesday, June 13, 2006
"Goombas" Pizzeria Name
The ANNOTICO
Report
ALL languages are organic, and therefore constantly changing. There are the
addition of words, changing of meanings of words, and different use of words. sometimes even exact contrary meanings.
"Goomba" is one of those words. Once
meaning "friend", it became derogatory when Non Italians started
using it as one of a series of derogatory terms aimed at Italian Americans.
Just as some blacks can use "Nigger" as a term of endearment between
good friends, those same blacks will make someone else pay dearly for its use.
I feel the same about "Goomba".
("Wop" and "Dago" fall into the same category).
Just as Blacks should object to an establishment called "Nigger",
Italian Americans should object to an
establishment called "Goomba", and Jews
to "Kike", and Asians to "Gook", etc.
PIZZERIA NAME SPARKS DEBATE
Hillsdale Independant
Hillsdale NY
By: Kritan Shaw
June 13, 2006
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Unbelievable Coincidence or Good Advertising Matching with Content of
Article??????
An Advertisement imbedded states:
Bad Credit Refinance For Today; Up to 4 Free Quotes YOU CAN'T REFUSE, (with the
Image of a Gangster with a Machine Gun) ??
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While
member Paul Puccio seemed to think the term simply
means "my friend," member Joseph Visalli
wasn't so sure, thinking the word could be a ethnic
slur.
"At what point does this become a social issue," he asked, wondering
if the town code gives planners the authority to question the content of a
sign.
Zoning Enforcement Officer Nadine Fuda said she
didn't think the code addressed the issue and following the meeting, after
looking at the code, The Independent could find no reference to the content of
signs.
Planning Board Attorney Timothy Nugent said he would look into the matter
further.
The issue came to light after planners were asked to make a recommendation to
the Zoning Board of Appeals on a second wall sign proposed for the former
Stewart's building, 1570 Columbia Turnpike.
The second wall sign was suggested in lieu of a double-faced pylon sign.
The board ultimately gave the ZBA a favorable recommendation but included in
the resolution that it did not endorse the content of the sign.
"It's not easy to categorize," said Planning Board Chairman Peter Goold. "What if we ask them to change it and they make
it worse?"
According to the Urban Dictionary website, which chronicles the use of slang,
the first definition of a Goomba is "An Italian
American, and only an Italian American, who has ties with the mafia... He is in
no way a gangster or a mobster himself."
But another definition on the site states the word goomba,
derived from Italian, means close friend, accomplice or mentor.
Yet another definition describes the word this way: "Taken from an Italian
word meaning friend, the word is mostly used today as an insulting term for
Italian-Americans."
"By calling someone a Goomba, you are implying
that they have ties to the mafia," said the slang website.
Other Urban Dictionary definitions indicate the term is derogatory in nature,
carrying the same concept as pig-farmer or a pe! rson who is fat, lazy, ignorant, a
slob, annoying, big, clumsy or awkward.
Another definition points to its misuse of an old southern Italian word for
godfather and another says it is a symbol of urban destruction.
A Goomba is also an enemy character from Nintendo's
series of Mario video games.
Steven Schirripa, who plays Bobby Bacala
on the television show "The Soprano's," has a new book out called A Goomba's Guide to Life.
In the book, the star said that a goomba is a certain
kind of Italian-American, not a gangster, but someone who knows gangsters.
He described the stereotypical goomba as a fat guy at
a social club, drinking espresso and playing cards while eating a big plate of
macaroni.
Mr. Schirripa said a goomba
looks silly or dumb and wears too much jewelry.
Some Italians take offense at the word, he wrote, especially if it's said the
wrong way.
A representative from the
Local residents also have heard the term goomba used
both ways.
Resident Kathi Conway said she had a friend in high
school who was referred to as Goomba
and that as far as she knew, it meant "my buddy."
"I never even thought of it as a bad term until I got older and heard it
used differently," she said. "It's sad how people can turn what was
meant to be a good term into something bad. I still think of my friend Goomba today."
"I didn't even know his real name until years later, but I've always
thought of him as Goomba," said Ms. Conway.
"People wouldn't know who I was talking about if I said, 'Remember when
Tony....'"
On the other hand, Kathi's husband Don said he never
heard the term used as friendly.
"As far as I knew it w! as the name of bad guys
in Super Mario Brothers [video] games," he said. "Later I heard it
used only as a derogatory term. I never thought of it one way or another until
then."
The issue is expected to be addressed by planners at the June 19 meeting.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm
=461&dept_id=462341&rfi=6
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