Why don't Italians get all up in arms about the way we are portrayed in the media, movies, etc?
471589
Because they are secure. Same goes for the Irish.\nWhen other groups resort to violence and continual protests over portrayal you have to wonder if they are secure.
608450
Difference in cultural backgrounds. Also, Italians had put roots in American society long time ago.... Stereotype of Italian is of some kind of civilized Eurpean.... Stereotype of Mexican is of some kind of uncivilized, uneducated, wild Latino.... People, already, have been through it.... Remember history of African americans... This time it is about Mexicans and "latinos"... It is sad.
507614
You probably have some Italian in your background.  We tend to talk with our hands.\n\nHonestly, I don't think it is social, I was raised American not Italian, but I do it too.  I think there might be something genetic involved, but yes, I wave my hands around while talking as you have described.\n\nGreeks to it too.  I think it is Mediterranean in nature.  \n\n-Dio
672696
People do what the TV tells them to. This includes being offended. It is fine in America to make fun of straight white men. You can tell jokes at the expense of Catholics, Protestants, and even sometimes Jews. Italians and Irish are ok to pick on. It seems that even Indians (from India) can sometimes be mocked. White hip hoppers....they are open game. \n\nIt is because the media or some huge personality hasn't come against it and said with conviction, "It is wrong to make fun of these people."
674884
In Shakespeare, and in much other old literature, the people are commonly depicted as ignorant, violent beasts, who only became more dangerous when assembled in mobs.  This was a convenient way to depict ordinary people when the world was governed by royalty and by small numbers of wealthy land-owners, and it was one of the reasons that many Europeans expected the United States to fail right away when we announced that "we the people" were going to govern ourselves.  In reality, the violent and lawless groups in Rome were the paid bodyguards serving wealthy senators.  More than once, a popular leader of the ordinary Roman people was beaten or killed by these private troops, but the history was written by Senators, so they often claimed that the people themselves had suddenly turned on their own leaders.  Shakespeare's era got all of its history of Rome from the writings of the wealthy and their servants, so what you see of the Roman people in his plays is naturally as negative as the ancient propaganda itself.
1095723
It's all envy. I find most anglosaxons envy italians, must be because of their style etc
64643
Italians are generally accepting of Arab Africans.  Think about history, Arabs essentially built Sicily and have a long history in Italy. Arabs find it fairly easily to adapt into Southern Italian life.  Also, unless the arab makes it obvious through clothing, it is often hard to distinguish between and light skinned Arab and a dark skinned Italian.  Many towns in Italy have ancient mosques and share a cuisine similiar to Tunisia.\n\nBlack Africans are a different story.  Very different.
860688
There is little outrage due to the big lie.  Whatever the case,you can bet we are misinformed.  We follow our leader's story, trusting them to tell us the truth, a big mistake, and then back him up at crunch time. Fascism thrives on ignorance, complacency,  and trust, until it is too late to change course.  Iraq is a good example.  We were worked up because of 9/11, we wanted justice for the attack, so we went into Afghanistan.  Somehow we also ended up in Iraq!  The big boys who run things, sip on their Napoleon Brandy and  cigars, while the rest of us are always trying to catch up.  It is always too late if we do,  after the violence has been done.  Then we are left to offer lame arguments for why it was all such a good idea in the first place.
920279
I personally don't think there's any reason to make fun of them. I'm American, so I guess we don't SEE any reason.\nMaybe it's because Leornardo DiCaprio played an Irishman in "Titanic" and didn't have an accent, I dunno...
1144041
Many don't like Americans but I don't think that it is fair to ask them that question.  In reality they have limited exposure and can only go by what they get in the media.  Many countries have state-controlled media and others are just very liberal and only present them with what the media bigwigs think is important.\n\nAlso, many people outside the country erroneously believe that Americans are like what they see on TV shows.  It's easy to see how that can happen but in reality 99.99% of the people are nothing like that.\n\nDon't forget that most of our media is based out of Los Angeles and New York.  Although those areas dominate the media that are absolutely not representative of the rest of the country.  That gives people from out of the country a skewed sense of our culture.\n\nAs for being rude I am really sick about hearing this.  I really don't understand why Americans are so quick to spew out this stereotype.  Rudeness is really a cultural thing.  What is rude in one culture isn't in another.  Living in Southern California we get more than our fair share of tourists.  I have seen so many European tourists that are "rude" simply because they don't understand our culture.  I'm sure that many of the things that they are doing are perfectly acceptable in theirs.  How about Asia?  Ever try riding public transit without being beaten?  Hell half the stuff they do there would land an American in jail but it is perfectly acceptable in their culture.
335324
Definitely not.  Italians have a flavor and love for life they are relaxed and genuinely enjoy their existence from what I have experienced while stationed there.
1129196
Most Celebs don't give a crap about us, which is quite sad.  Media today which includes movies, internet, t.v., newspapers, mags etc. holds little if any moral guidance.  It is up to responsible Adults and Church leaders to give the youth today a proper example.
917367
Let's start at the beginning. Come stai? Molto bene. Bon giorno. Ciao. Arrivederci. Every Italian from Italy knows these words and every Italian-American should.\nBut what about the goomba speech pattern? Those words and phrases that are a little Italian, a little American, and a little slang. Words Every paesano and Bacciagaloop has heard,-words we hear! on The Sopranos and throughout our Little Italy neighborhoods of New York and New Jersey. This form of language, the "Goomba-Italiano" has been used for generations. It's not gangster slang terms like "whack" or "vig"
226976
There is a couple of things that contribute to this in my opinion.  First being the differences in people.  People tend to respond badly to people who are different just to make themselves feel better, and superior in there oddities. The other being no common goal.  If we have learned nothing else from Hollywood, lol, it is that when faced with a great adversity, humans will unite to overcome it.  Kinda like a bad virus really. Not to be too cliche.
421103
I read some of the answers here..and well seems to me that we are answering out both sides---I am part Italian--and yes I am very proud of that and if it weren't for my great grandfather coming over and busting his butt to become legal who knows where I would be...But, HE CAME HERE TO AMERICA..AND HE WANTED TO BECOME AN AMERICAN..HE DID THIS FOR A GOOD REASON I AM SURE. I AM AMERICAN..PERIOD..SO NOW WHAT SOME ARE SAYING IS WE NEED LABELS ON US LIKE CAN GOODS?
1131566
Italians are smart business people, they helped make this country what it is today. They're good lookin' , sexy, they speak with authority, their familes come first, Italians stick together to help others of their race. I'm 81% Italiano and 19% German.
377049
Most people of any race and culture are proud of the accomplishments of their forebear's....I'm Italian and find the fact the my ancestors are the ones who created the aqua-duct, something that I take pride in. I take pride in the fact so many of the most wonderful and brilliant artist were Italian...DaVinci, Michelangelo..ect....this is a very normal reaction to your own kind and your own history....The people of China are no different, and as they have a culture that still remains to this day one of the most progressive, I think they take great pride in their accomplishments now!