by Leah Davidson

Created on: January 16, 2009

I'm not exactly sure that the program "The Sopranos'" hurt the Italian-American culture in the Untied States, but taking a program like this one out-of-context and believing that there still is a managed structure such as the mafia in existence can be of itself a damaging image for Italian-Americans.

I actually saw the 'entertainment' value of the program and what I would believe to be extreme in vilolence and therefore unsuitable for viewing by children under the age of 17 years. But if Americans in general think that all Italian -Americans have some conection with a mafia-like subculture, then I would have to agree that it could be damaging to the image of the national pride in Italian-Americans.

I am of Italian American heritage, my mother was born and raised in Naples, Italy. When I watched the television show 'The Sopranos' I myself felt absolutely no connection to the characters in the show what-so-ever. I didn't even have a concept of identification with the characters, having never been exposed to such a criminal element which can be clearly linked to other nationally syndicated crime organizations such as the IRA; or Hamas; or any other violent criminal organization.

Many movies and television programs in today's society are full of violence, crime, and sexual content that I find highly disturbing, whether they be programs with any oriented nationalities; American; Irish; Italian; German; Leboneses; etc... the very context of which can be misleading and troublesome in our society.

With perspective on our growing economic concerns, I would say that these types of programs be viewed very carefully and considered a possible danger to people whom are concerned with say: homelessness; poverty; and joblessness. This country is on the verge of national crisis because of its toppling economy driven by the greed and averice of some corporate managemet executives who seem to be 'getting away with crimes' comitted against average American Citizens.

These CEO's and management executives whom have stolen pensions; IRA's; and set aside security incomes of the average American for college funding or retirement purposes should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and be made to 'pay back' stolen funds. Now here is the REAL damage to image of ANY culture, be it Italian American; African American; Irish American; German American, etc....

Talk about hurting an 'image' of a certain culture, it is my belief that the AMERICAN image is being destroyed by its own element of organized crime in CORPORATE AMERICA!

Where are the law makers of our country to put a stop to the stealing? Where is our constitution that should be upholding the rights of the American people with regard to safety of identification and security of our money in banking establishments?

I'm appalled and frightened at what is happening in our own AMERICAN culture with the rape of average american citizens in plain view of authorities that should be protecting our rights and money.

The Sopranos program dosen't hold a candle to the agonizing death of watching your own savings being stolen right under your nose LEGALLY by Corporate Management Controlled Securities Organizations!

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