Saturday, November 25, 2006

"Traditional Italian Crime" Draws Irate Response from Italian Ambassador in Canada

The ANNOTICO Report

 

Obviously  Gabriele Sardo, Ambassador of Italy to Canada was as Irate as I, when he read the Gazette's quoting  an RCMP official, calling the arrest on 24th of November of 73 people in connection with "traditional Italian-based organized crime" one of the most important police operations in the history of  Canada"     

 

As I pointed out in my Report (Repeated below)  I found the Reportage Appalling in THREE Respects;

 

(1) Canadian Officials Branded a mass arrest as a "TRADITIONAL ITALIAN" based Organized Crime.!!!!!!!!!

(2) Then, Montreal Gazzette's Jeff Heinrich finds the  "Silence of Italians (Community) Deafening"

(3) The Crimes involved are either PETTY in Nature or Volume.  The allegations involve Bookmaking, Threatening a Scam Artist, Trafficking in Modest amounts of Cocaine.

 

Yet, "The RCMP called it "one of the most important police operations in the history of Canada"    

 

Exponential Hyperbole !!!!! ????

 

Roundup of Mafiosi had Nothing to do with Italians

Montreal Gazette

Montreal,Quebec,Canada
Saturday, November 25, 2006

 

Letter to Editor

I am not particularly touchy when it comes to reacting to negative stereotypes of Italians and some of our less commendable characteristics. When I read in the media of the roundup of mafiosi in Montreal that the RCMP dubbed Projet Colisee, I am perplexed, but I have an understanding, as Sigmund Freud would have said, of subliminal impulses.

However, when an RCMP spokesperson is quoted as characterizing the whole operation as "a very serious blow to Italian organized crime" ("Mob takes a hit: 73 netted in raids, including alleged mafia kingpins," Gazette, Nov. 23), I feel compelled to intervene.

I know it might be hard to swallow, because organized crime is a pretty repulsive aspect of society, and one that not only proves how bad criminals are but how easily good, ordinary citizens can be persuaded to become their accomplices, but my dear fellow readers, you have to face it: As far as I know, the Montreal mafia is as Canadian as Tim Horton's.

We already have our Mafia. We don't need yours.

Gabriele Sardo 

Ambassador of Italy to Canada

Ottawa

 

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