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Caro Governatore della Sicilia Totó Cuffaro
(January 20, 2008)
A personal blogcard addressed to the Governatore della Sicilia Totó Cuffaro on his exoneration from the charge of aiding and abetting Mafia.
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Caro Governatore della Sicilia Totó Cuffaro, aka zu’ Vasa Vasa, or Uncle Kiss-kiss,
I just learned that today you were sentenced to five years in prison for aiding and abetting BUT you were absolved from the charge of aiding and abetting the Mafia. In other words, yes, you helped a mafioso, but as a personal favor. You certainly didn’t mean to help Cosa Nostra! I’m glad the judges pointed out the difference!
You see, I’ve been following this Moles-trial very closely because, as a humble servant of your kingdom, I was worried about what could happen to our beloved Sicily if, God forbid, they removed you from your throne. But you, Uncle Kiss-kiss, showed great determination and courage since the beginning of this three-year-long via crucis. Ignoring those who put you down and wanted you to resign, you held on tight to your chair at the Palazzo d’Orleans and today, when the judge finished reading your sentence, your eyes filled with tears of joy and relief, you promised you’ll be back at your desk tomorrow. This is what I’d call devotion! I also learned that you’ve been banned from holding public office, but we won’t have to worry about that till all appeals are exhausted, which means that the ban won’t take effect before your mandate expires.
Phewwwwww! Do you believe they almost gave you 8 years? And for what? They put you on trial because a few years ago you let Brancaccio Mafia boss Guttadauro know that his house was bugged so that he could have it inspected and cleaned. “Aiding and abetting Mafia,” they call it. Come on now! What kind of justice is that which sentences a good man to five years for protecting a friend’s privacy?
Anyway, I’m glad to hear you’re going to appeal. Your friends Casini and Berlusconi are with you on this. Btw, Silvio has shown in several occasions a sensibility which is very close to yours at its core. Wouldn’t it be nice to give him the Sicilian honorary citizenship? Just a suggestion.
Kisses right back at ya from me and my friend Joey Ski,
Chiara
P.S.: Good luck with the Banco di Sicilia thing.
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Brava!
It's nice to hear someone speak up against these fools.
Uncle kiss-kiss.
I love it! keep writing.
Two Questions
Ms. Mazzucchelli -- Your blog/op.ed article is very interesting. Not being familiar with current Sicilian events, I cannot fully appreciate the creativity of all your nuances; but, I get your drift. -- The article brought two questions to my mind (albeit tangential to your main thought) and I wonder if you might consider them. First, you used the expression “Costra Nostra” seemingly interchangeably with the term Mafia. I thought “Costra Nostra” was a literary creation of Mario Puzo in his novel “The Godfather.” Yours seems to imply that it is a phase that is in common use in Sicily. -- Second: Sicilian immigrants whom I’ve know usually qualify their condemnation of Mussolini with praise for the tough way he dealt with the mafia. Many seem to think that he ‘put them out of business’ and the American military, after the conquest of Sicily in WW II, put them ‘back into business.’ -- If you have any thoughts about these two questions and would care to share them, I would appreciate hearing them. You seem to be a Sicilian and a scholar; so I should think you have a special insight. Ciao for now. Tom Verso
Attempted answers
Dear Tom (feel free to call me Chiara), As far as I know, the expression “Cosa Nostra” was popularized by informer Joe Valachi before the publication of Puzo’s The GF. It is now a common expression in Italy too, especially when referring to Sicilian mafia. As for Mussolini, my lack of sympathy for the guy is total and all-encompassing. The Duce was as concerned about the plight of Sicilians under the Mafia as Bush was for the wellbeing of the Iraqi people under Saddam, if you know what I mean. DISCLAIMER: answer #1 may be wrong and answer #2 may beg for more rigorous assessment. The fact that—you’re right to assume—I’m from Sicily probably makes me more sensitive to the phenomenon of Mafia but not necessarily an expert. Sorry if I don’t have a “special insight” to share with you.
Saluti, Chiara