Gianfranco Fini, Italian President of Chamber of Deputies Official Visit to Washington

Gianfranco Fini, the President of Italy’s Chamber of Deputies was in Washington this week on an official visit.  On Wednesday Fini met with Vice President Joe Biden.  The two discussed the need for strong international cooperation to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability and ways to deepen cooperation in the NATO mission in Afghanistan.  After their meeting they affirmed the strong friendship and cooperation between the United States and Italy. 

 On Wednesday evening, Fini attended a reception at the Library of Congress hosted by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi where Fini presented a rare volume of Michelangelo: La Dotta Mano, as a gift to Congress. Late in the evening, Fini attended a dinner hosted by Italian Ambassador Giulio Terzi.

On Thursday, Fini returned to Capitol Hill for a meeting with Speaker Pelosi and bipartisan congressional leaders. Speaker Pelosi spoke about her friendship with Fini and about the “ 20 million bonds of Americans of Italian-American descent, who take great pride in their heritage as they love America very much.  Everyone who came here has made America more American and stronger.” In his remarks, Fini praised Pelosi and made the following comments:  

The very fact that a woman — in whose veins there runs blood of Italian ancestors and that this woman is now the Speaker of the U.S. House of Congress — shows how ancient, how strong the bonds between our two peoples are. And on this great American continent, I think that this great American continent has taught us and is teaching us something very important. And this is a lesson for the entire world — concerning such issues as immigration, respect for human rights — of people who have traveled far, far away from their homes in order to find work and find a better future — they’ve got to integrate and respect them. And this is shown in an exemplary way by someone who has reached the highest levels in administration, the highest echelons in administration as Speaker Pelosi has done. But our relationship does not only build upon our past traditions. It has to be nourished every day. Nourished by a shared commitment — a commitment in a number of international scenarios. To defend the fundamental rights that are the shared heritage of the West of the whole: the rights of the human person. And wherever these rights are being trampled upon, there, the U.S. and Italy have to work side-by-side.

To read Pelosi’s comments and more visit  CiaoAmerica!

Top Fifty Most Influential Italian Americans

CiaoAmerica! Magazine is compiling a list of the 50 most influential Italian Americans in 2010. Below is a preliminary list, culled from many submissions to CiaoAmerica! by readers. The next step is to finalize the list of the top 50. Did we miss someone who should be on the list? Send your comments to CiaoAmerica! Magazine at editor@CiaoAmerica.net. The comment period ends on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Here is the list in no particular order:

Lady Gaga | Nancy Pelosi | Danny DeVito | Madonna | Leon Panetta | John Podesta | Antonin Scalia | Jerry Colangelo | Maria Pinto | Leonardo DiCaprio | Giada deLaurentis | Kara Dioguardi | Samuel Alito | Tom Colicchio | Andrew Cuomo | Andrew Napolitano | Rudy Giuliani | Janet Napolitano |Tom Perelli |Gay Talese | David Baldacci | Geraldine Ferraro | Martin Scorsese | Raymond Odierno | Jay Leno | Samuel Palmisano | Bruce Springsteen | Maria Bartiromo | John DeGioa | Paul Otellini | Lidia Bastianich | Francesco Vezzoli | Peter DeFazio | Bill Pascrell | Joe Girardi | Andre DiMino | Dominic Massaro | Robert De Niro | Joseph De Raso | Joseph DiTrapani | Dana Perino | Kenneth Langone | Jim Messina | Sylvester Stallone | Anthony Fauci | Peter Pace | Peter Secchia | Mariuccia Zerilli-Marimo’ | Mayor Adrian Fenty | Connie Morella | Gene Dodaro | Rachel Ray | Carla Gugino | Bon Jovi |

Italian Americans Need to Speak with One Voice

UNICO National, one of the many national Italian- American organizations speaking against MTV’s portrayal of Italian Americans in the “reality” series “Jersey Shore,” is holding a “Summit On the Shore: Anti-Italianism – MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ and a Whole Lot More.” UNICO President Andre DiMino said that “It’s only appropriate that we bring this to the place where this abomination of a TV show was filmed.”

We applaud UNICO’s advocacy during the past several months.  Their press releases have been well-circulated, so much so, ironically, that they may have helped make “Jersey Shore” one of MTV’s most watched shows. Now, however, we need to move beyond MTV’s “Jersey Shore” and find, as former OSIA national president Joseph Sciame recently said, a “national spokesperson who can rally us together.”   

We believe the “Jersey Shore” experience should be the catalyst that finally drives the leadership of the national Italian-American organizations to come together and speak with one voice.  Until then, nothing will change, and the usual fragmentation of national Italian American groups will persist.

We applaud the John D. Calandra Italian American Institute at Queens College, CUNY, for presenting a colloquium on “Guido an Italian-American Youth Style” with Donald Tricarico and Johnny DeCarlo.

 Finally, once again, we raise the question– directed this time to the leadership of our national Italian American organizations–Why does the Italian-American Congressional Delegation continue to be silent on MTV’s “Jersey Shore”?

Italian American Martin Scorsese Recipient of DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement

Robert De Niro, in presenting the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at the Golden Globes, to Martin Scorses, his longtime friend and collaborator said: “Marty sleeps, drinks and eats film. I hear there are videos on the Internet of Marty having sex with film.” “We’re like an old married couple,” said De Niro. “We built a life together, we have great memories — we just don’t sleep together anymore.”

The Cecil B. DeMille award winners are chosen by the HFPA board of directors and presented each year (except for 1976). The first woman to receive the award was Judy Garland in 1962 (following Fred Astaire which delighted her no end), the next was Joan Crawford in 1970. The list of winners provides a spectrum of talented human beings who have had a definite impact on the world of entertainment, be it Alfred Hitchcock, Lucille Ball, Sidney Poitier, Sophia Loren, Sean Connery, Barbra Streisand or any one of those thoughtfully selected for the honor.

Joseph Sciame Calls on Italian-American Organizations to Find National Spokesperson

Joseph Sciame, former National President of OSIA and currently the vice-president for community relations at St. John’s University, commented in an email he sent out early this week, on the “Jersey Shore” MTV controversy and the reaction by Italian-American organizations.  We think that the following excerpts of his statement ought to be shared with the entire Italian American community.

We have never, ever been good at “advocacy” let alone “lobbying” and other than the anti-defamation initiatives we have all activated over the years, i.e., the OSIA Commission for Social Justice, the UNICO effort this time which received wide publicity and the NIAF’s ongoing favorable relationship with “The Hill,” what else is it that we can do? Is there no national spokesperson who can rally us together? Is there no US Senator/Congressperson, Governor or other statesman who can say something?

It does seem to me, and I have shared this with many folks INFORMALLY in the past, we need in 2010 (as we have not done heretofore) a major meeting of the minds…ALL Italian-American organizations, with some top level speaker who can get us ALL on the same plate.

As we noted on our blog on December, we have not  heard any comments or criticism of “Jersey Shore”  by the Congressional Italian-American delegation. The delegation is co-chaired by Rep. Bill Pascrell, who coincidentally represents New Jersey’s Eighth District, and Rep. Pat Tiberi from Ohio.  Their silence has been deafening. If they have indeed not responded to the across-the-board criticism of “Jersey Shore” by all national Italian-American organizations, then we Italian Americans deserve better representation.

January 17: “International Day of Italian Cuisines”

Official Launch in New York City on January 13-14

 Hundreds of chefs in more than 50 countries will be cooking tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese simultaneously on January 17, 2010, in celebration of International Day of Italian Cuisines. Each year, chefs around the world prepare an authentic Italian dish to promote and maintain the identity of Italian cuisine on international markets. “The International Day of Italian Cuisines is without a doubt a celebration of Italian flavors and culinary culture,” says food writer Rosario Scarpato. Read more . . .>>

Italian-American Congressional Delegation Silent on MTV’s Jersey Shore

Have you heard any comments or criticism by the Congressional Italian-American delegation regarding MTV’s degrading show “Jersey Shore”?  The delegation is co-chaired by Rep. Bill Pascrell, who coincidentally represents New Jersey’s Eighth District, and Rep. Pat Tiberi from Ohio.  Their silence is deafening.  If you know whether they have commented on the program, please share it with this blog.

On the other hand, Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito recently lashed out at the media, accusing them of using the Mafia to “slander Italian-Americans.” Alito also took a swipe at the entertainment industry for the “perversely romantic” image of the Mafia it has “shamefully promulgated.” Thumbs up to Alito!

Italian American Scientists Discover Two Genes That Drive Aggressive Brain Cancers

Dr. Iavarone headed the research

Two Italian American scientists at Columbia University Medical Center, Antonio Iavarone, M.D., associate professor of neurology in the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Andrea Califano, Ph.D., director of the Columbia Initiative in Systems Biology, have discovered two genes that, when simultaneously activated, are responsible for the most aggressive forms of human brain cancer. This finding was made possible by the assembly of the first comprehensive network of molecular interactions that determine the behavior of these cancer cells, a map so complex and elusive that, until now, it could not be constructed. The discovery may lead to completely novel strategies to diagnose and treat these incurable tumors. The findings were published in an advanced online edition of Nature on Dec. 23, 2009.

Dr. Iavarone emigrated from Italy about five years ago after apparently questioning the lack of meritocracy in the university system in Italy.

Carmen’s Comments on MTV’s Jersey Shore

We thought to reprint the comments that Carmen posted earlier on this blog.  We suspect that most Italian Americans share Carmen’s view.

What a bunch of idiots. I thought it would be fun to laugh at them, but it’s more sad than funny. The show is put together poorly and it’s obvious that MTV thinks people will watch anything with shock value. Do these people even work?

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy watching “ethnic” Italians; I am one. My family is hilarious also, but these people are devoid of any respect or dignity. These characters make mobsters look like Rhodes scholars.

I’d rather watch a show like Cake Boss, which features hard working, entertaining people with a strong sense of family. They’re funny, as they remind me of my own family, but they’re talented and grounded.

Jersey Shore is an insult to Italians, to young people, to the people of New Jersey, and to viewers in general.

Not a Good Week for Italian American Politicians – Good Week for Italian American Chefs

Joe Bruno

Last Monday, former N.Y. State Senate majority leader, Joseph L. Bruno was convicted on two federal corruption charges. The testimony and evidence introduced at his trial suggested that he used public institutions and resources for private gains.  “The prosecutors and agents involved in this case take no pleasure from what the trial revealed about the culture of the N.Y. State Senate under the leadership of Joseph L. Bruno,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew Baxter.  Bruno, 80, was born in  Glens Falls, N.Y., and was first Italian American elected to the N.Y. Senate in 1976.

On Tuesday, in Massachusetts, Michael Capuano, a member of the House of Representatives, sought to win the Democratic primary for Senator Kennedy’s vacant seat but pulled in only 28% of the votes. He was not the only Italian American in the democratic primary.  In fact, with the exception of the winner, they were all Italian Americans.   Stephen Pagliuca, owner of the Boston Celtics, brought up his Italian American roots during his campaign; he got 12 % of the votes. The third candidate,  Alan Khazei, who takes his last name from his Iranian father,  played up the fact that his mother was Italian.  He received 13% of the votes.  If  they had all agreed to support one Italian American candidate, that person would likely have won.  Instead, the three-way split left Martha Coakley with 47% of the votes and a ticket to the U.S. Senate.

On a more positive note this week,  Italian American  brothers, Michael and Bryan Voltaggio showed America what good cooking is all about! Michael, a chef in L.A., took the top prize on Bravo’s TV show Top Chef.  Bryan, owner of Volt restaurant in Frederick, Md, ranked in the top three. The Voltaggios grew up in Frederick, the sons of a clerical worker and a state trooper whose moonlighting in hotel security apparently got them into the Holiday Inn kitchen as teens.  According to the judges, Michael’s fried broccoli was the highlight of  the final meal.  For those of  us who grew up in Italian  families, where fried broccoli were a delicacy, it was a fitting season ending.

One final note: on Friday, John Mancini, editor-in-chief of Newsday, “resigned” after 2o years at the paper. Rumors are that he was pushed out by Cablevision, the paper’s owner, after a reputed tussle with the company’s head.