Well, we already knew this, but Im here tonight to reiterate how - TopicsExpress

Well, we already knew this, but Im here tonight to reiterate how very important this site is. Over the last two days, Ive popped into another group, Speak Sicilian! because I was interested in a couple of posts. Well, the xenophobia, exclusionism, and cringe-worthy simple ickiness I saw there was astounding. People were arguing over sauce or gravy and trying to determine who was the most full-blooded Sicilian or Italian. I used the word diaspora and so was called pompous. I was called a bigot by the same woman when I suggested that in some ways we build our mythologies of identity and that third generations Sicilian Americans, like me, were not Sicilians but Sicilian Americans. As I left, the group had gone on to spend an hour commenting disparagingly on Chef Boyardee Spaghettios. Ill admit, I took a swipe at the good chef myself, thankful to have found a thread I couldnt find much vitriol in. My first reaction was to say that Im never going back there, but thats just cowardly and lazy; I will go back there because I am a voice to counter some of what I saw there. At the same time, I am so very thankful for the considered, thoughtful, intelligent, empathetic concerns voiced here. Thank you.