THE GROUPS WHO CAN'T TAKE OFFENSE:

Mayor Quits Parade Over 'Sopranos' (LARRY McSHANE, 10/12/02, Associated Press)

It was an offer he had to refuse. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, told by organizers that he couldn't march in the annual Columbus Day Parade if accompanied by two cast members from ``The Sopranos,'' said Friday he would simply skip the event.

The mayor even slipped in a little mob-speak about the tempest in a cappuccino cup caused by his invitations to Monday's event.

``I'm sort of walking along, invite two Italian-Americans, want to say thank you on behalf of the city,'' Bloomberg said a la Sonny Corleone. ``And bada-bing, bada-boom--all of a sudden they're down my throat. OK?''

Bloomberg spoke on his weekly radio show as the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which runs the parade, sought a federal court order banning him from bringing Dominic Chianese and Lorraine Bracco to the annual celebration of Italian pride.

I don't get it. This is a parade at which Italo-Americans celebrate their pride in their achievements. To their credit, they are embarrassed by their historic connection to the Mafia. But these celebrity-mongering politicians insist on shoving mob chic down their throats. Meanwhile, the commentariat sides with those who seek to humiliate the celebrants.
Posted by Orrin Judd at October 12, 2002 11:24 AM