From: Dominic Tassone
To: Editors, NY Daily Post

I read Stephen Schwartz's abominable "The Right Way" article. I was quite
astonished that a major NY newspaper would have the audacity to insult so
many of its readers. Schwartz's "The Right Way" is nothing more than the
ranting of an unknown writer that belittles the historically documented
plight of many Italian-Americans during WW II, callously dismissing the
entire matter.

Beyond the de rigueur intro, "working on a book" - who has heard of
Schwartz? For the likes of Schwartz to ascribe Professor Di Stasi as an
"undistinguished scribbler" is truly laughable. In addition to his work at
UC - Berkeley, Di Stasi is the President of the Western Region of the
American Italian Historical Association - a group that represents leading
scholars of Italian-American culture; Di Stasi also launched the traveling
exhibit "Una Storia Segreta."

The sheer ignorance of Mr. Schwartz towards the facts which he selectively
dismisses as hoax or unworthy of merit is as disturbing as New York Post's
printing such a divisive mean-spirited diatribe. I doubt Mr. Schwartz has
even attended the exhibit (now in it's 6th year) nor read the book. If he
had done so, he would have answered his own question as to "How WW II Iced
Italian American Culture." In criticizing Italian's victimization, he fails
to mention that they are not asking for a handout from the taxpayers -
simply respectful acknowledgement of what happened.

For Schwartz to suggest that so many lives, unfairly and inequitably
restricted, harassed and in some cases ruined was just tough, while at the
same time 500,000 Italian-Americans served the US military is ungrateful and
disgusting. Italian-American loyalties were painfully clear, even though
some returned to find their families "relocated" or worse. To suggest that
10,000 people were not detained, when in fact the government admits this is
ludicrous and intellectually dishonest on Mr. Schwartz part. To compare the
rather gingerly treatment of Arabs in today's imbroglio to the indignities
of the Italian (or Japanese) internments adds insult to injury.

Despite the rhetoric, Schwartz is in fact the revisionist and his flimsy
opinion piece is "The Wrong Way" for America. It is interesting that Di
Stasi's book, "Una Storia Segreta" ranks 25,545 vs. Schwartz's two other
books at 333,045 and 343,059. Perhaps he should spend less time worrying
about what Italian-Americans are doing.

Please do your readers a service by allowing them to learn the facts for
themselves:

http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju60413.000/hju60413_0.HTM

Interested people can call the US DOJ and ask for a copy of the unredacted
DOJ report, "A Review of the Restrictions on Persons of Italian Ancestry
During World War II," and read it for themselves: (202) 514-4224.

Dominic Tassone

Mobilito Media, LLC
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Chicago, IL

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