NIAC's basic goal is to encourage a more positive and less negative perception by Americans of Italian Americans.

NIAC took the leadership position through it's President and Founder Tony La Piana, in successfully lobbying the passage of the "Italian American War Time Violations Act" in both the US House and Senate. (Italian US Residents Internment and Restrictions during WWII).
     
La Piana gives credit to Larry DiStasi's "Una Storia Segreta" traveling Exhibit for the inspiration of his actions, and acknowledges the important assistance of John Calvelli, Congressional aide, and now also President of "Conference of Presidents of the Major Italian American Organizations", for one of the most important singular accomplishments of ANY Italian Organization in recent times.

NIAC then launched a counter offensive to defend the Columbus Holiday, that has come under SERIOUS siege. "Project Invisible People" (PIP).

NIAC is about to also embark on a lobbying attempt to make members of the US Congress more aware of the harmful effects of pervasive Negative Stereotyping on Italian Americans.

For the past 2 years NIAC has presented a month end Sunday Nights half hour live cable TV talk show, "Taking Sides", on Channel 19 to advance the Projects previously stated, and so much more.

NIAC's efforts have unfortunately gone mostly unnoticed, because it has not yet created a Web Site, nor a Internet Bulletin Board/Newsletter. That is soon to be remedied. 

Bill Dal Cerro, an officer of the Italic Institute, and also a commentator for FRA NOI, has written a very laudatory profile articles on NIAC, and Tony La Piana. That type of cooperative, collaborative effort warms my heart.  

Now to NIAC's Press Release:
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IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
 

The NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN COUNCIL (NIAC), recognizes that it is only one of many Italian American Organizations that recognize the enormous damage that Media Negative Stereotyping inflicts upon the economic, social, and personal well-being of the individual, the families, and collective Italian American Community.

All of the Major Italian American Organizations recognize that this must be dealt with by Both.... ACCENTUATING the POSITIVE, and ELIMINATING the NEGATIVE.

In regard to "Accentuating the Positive", there appears to be a high degree of unanimity of agreement among these Italian American groups, of the great importance of disseminating widely and repeatedly the Positive historical and current Aspects and Accomplishments of the Italian American and Italian Heritage and Culture, the Community and Individual members. 

This of course, is to instill in the members of the Italian American Community, an "educated" sense of pride, that any group must strive for.  It has even the more important purpose of "counter balancing" the continuing torrent of Media Negative Stereotyping, that has resulted in 75 percent of the U. S. population equating Italian Americans with a Negative Image.

In relation to "Eliminating the Negative", there seems to be a significant agreement that all Negative Depictions or Portrayals, of a nature that would not ordinarily be considered to be inflicted on any other group, or be tolerated by any other group, shall be responded to by an Advisory and Informational Complaint.

NIAC is proud of its part in advancing both of the foregoing objectives, and is equally proud of those other Italian American organizations that are working so hard, in winning many small battles, against monumental odds. We are confidant, that in our persistence and dedication, that we will all continue to make meaningful advances.

However, NIAC, and a great number of other Italian American activists, feel that their productive efforts in this Anti--Defamation battle are being diminished, and even sabotaged, by certain actions of some Italian American groups. 

These groups are either oblivious of the harm of their "counter productive" actions, or have not carefully considered the consequences of their actions, or that the "short-term" benefits to their organization, are far more important to them, than the "long-term" detriment to the Italian American community.

NIAC is speaking of course, of certain Italian American Organizations tendency to HONOR Italian American Celebrities, merely on the basis of that person's "Marquee" value, that might increase attendance at their Awards Dinner. 

Those organizations completely ignore the fact that that Honoree's successful career  has been substantially one of Furtherance of the Negative Stereotyping of Italian Americans!!

In fact, in so many cases, the Honoree has never "actively" participated in the Italian American Community, or even any Italian American Projects!

To heap Insult on Injury, these Honorees, (to our knowledge), have never taken any of their "ill gotten" gains, and made any significant monetary contributions to the Italian American community, in the establishment of a Fund or Foundation, or even any significant contribution to an Italian American Organization, that is designated to counter act the negative effects of their "work"!  

Furthermore, incredulously, the Honorees never even seem to suffer any pangs of conscience, which would impel, them to issue statements of apology or contrition, for their being "forced" to take such roles, or face the prospect of not working.

Instead, with a heartless indifference, they attack the Italian American activists critics as "rabble"! 

Such an Award, therefore, gives the "appearance" that the Honoree is being recognized for contributing to the defamation of the Italian American Community. 

What other conclusion, can one come to???

To the outside world, it gives the "perception", that not only do our Major Italian American Organizations NOT care about Defamation, but that they willingly and warmly "embrace" it.

On what occasion, have you seen such Counter Productive actions from any other Ethnic or Racial group??  

We at NIAC, IMPLORE all Italian American Organizations to exercise greater caution in their selection of Honorees. 

That is NOT intended to discourage the "reaching out" to a person such as a Robert DeNiro, and attempting to "educate" them to the seriousness of Italian American Defamation. And to encourage them to be willing to "acknowledge" the damage done by a Defamation, to be "apologetic" about their unawareness,  and to be "contrite" about their participation, and to be willing to make a substantial monetary "pledge", (for instance, in the establishment of an Italian American Studies Chair), to "promise" to approach those Producers, Directors, Moguls to offer him scripts that convey a Positive Italian American Image, and to likewise attempt to "convert" other Italian Americans to the "Cause".

To NOT either "select" Honorees more judiciously, or to NOT "educate" prospective Honorees, invariably will damage the credibility of that organization, and damage "The Cause" to which we are all seemingly committed!

We Honor the Deserving, we attempt to Educate those others, we Shun those who WILL NOT understand.

To do otherwise, is to sew the seeds of our own destruction, or at least erect monumental barriers to our success. 
 

Tony La Piana
Founder & President
National Italian American Council
 

P.O. Box#323
Lombard, IL 60148
Phone:  (630)-415-1817 X1 Administration
Fax:      (630)-705-9225

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