If we ban stereotypes of the Mafia, we should also go on and ban stereotypes of Jews, which then immediately kicks out Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice for its hideous portrayal of Jews just to start with. If we ban every parody of everything that could hurt of offend, the majority of the literary canon will be annihilated. Avoid stereotypes, disclaim them, certainly; ban them, no. Besides, what she was saying about Italians was a parody, and not intended to be taken seriously on any level; no one believes for a minute that you or any other Italian is a mafioso, just as everyone knows that not all Jews are backstabbing greedy bloody-minded bastards even though they're often portrayed as such, and everyone knows not all Americans are militant maniacs from Texas with enough drawl to drown a cat even though we're often portrayed as such. I was not saying that she had a right to call you a mafioso, just trying to make a point about parodies and also say that her portrayal in the story was in no way shape or form intented to be taken seriously.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-10-05 10:04 am (UTC)But no, I don't condone the story.