What Do You Make Of This?

Federal Hill Mural, originally uploaded by *CA*.

First off, forgive me if this post is a cluster-fuck as I'm attempting to blog directly from flickr as to not steal this person's photo (SoJ: CA). I have no clue if it will even work.

When my parents first moved into the house we grew up in and my brother was about 4 years old, the people who lived across the street kept him up whining and crying all night with fireworks at completely unreasonable hours of the night. My dad walked over to the party to ask the neighbor if they could stop with the fireworks as they were scaring the crap out of his wussy child. The neighbor told him to talk to another man who took my dad aside and politely asked him to let them have a good time while showing him his shiny new pistol. These are things you just kind of grew to accept. I also used to mow this guy's lawn and was compensated quite nicely but I digress.

The picture above is a mural that was painted maybe 10 years ago right by the off ramp leading up to Federal Hill, which is widely known as the center for the crime families that have been controlling the law officials and politicians in RI for years. They even made a movie about it. In between each tunnel are portraits of the most infamous leaders of this organization. It is clearly intended to pay homage to them and while I'm certain that they contributed a lot to that community, this mural has always rubbed me the wrong way.

I live in a state that's chosen to immortalize and glorify people that made their livings through bribery, theft, and murder. This is a complete non-issue too. It's never been the least bit controversial. When I bring it up to people, they just say that they've never thought about it that way. Someday, I'll have to explain this to my children. I have a huge problem with that.

So what do you think? Big deal or should I just shut the fuck up?

Comments

[Vandelay]

Meh...not bad. It appears that the paragraph breaks are a little larger than sending right from Typepad but I can live with that.

[jackie]

So, that's where Michael Caffee gets things done, huh?

I think you should STFU. It's part of the history, fabric and culture of where you are from. I don't see any problem with it.

(I also thank you immensely for this post. Been trying to figure out how you can be you and Kruger such a tree-hugging, let child "muderrapers" live, type of pussy. This explains a lot. 'Preciate it.)

[jackie]

"Someday, I'll have to explain this to my children. I have a huge problem with that.

Why?

[Vandelay]

So, that's where Michael Caffee gets things done, huh?

Season 3 is actually being filmed as we speak.

I think you should STFU. It's part of the history, fabric and culture of where you are from. I don't see any problem with it.

I know and you're certainly in the majority here but why? I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that Hollywood has been making protagonists out of mobsters for years and it's actually spilled over into real life.

Would you have a problem with it if you or someone close to you were ever a victim of a mob crime?

[Vandelay]

Why?

Well, I think we should try to teach our children that breaking the law is absolutely not okay but then when they see people viewed as heroes to that community who made their livings braking the law, it presents a bit of a double standard.

[jackie]

I know and you're certainly in the majority here but why?

Already gave you my reason.

Would you have a problem with it if you or someone close to you were ever a victim of a mob crime?

No, I wouldn't.

I presume your point here is premised on your positions that these mobsters are solely glorified and held up in high esteem.

I disagree with that premise. In just about every mob movie, show or whatever I've seen there is a very healthy amount of "at the end of the day these guys are ruthless, heartless, murderess, sociopaths who care only about themselves and money." If you choose to ignore that part of the message, that's on you.

[jackie]

"Well, I think we should try to teach our children that breaking the law is absolutely not okay but then when they see people viewed as heroes to that community who made their livings braking the law, it presents a bit of a double standard."

C'mon man, tell that to any parent raising a kid in any urban hood in America. It is your job as a parent to teach your kid right and wrong, good and bad, [drawing blanks]. If you can't do it in the face of some movies and portraits, again, that's on you.

[Vandelay]

C'mon man, tell that to any parent raising a kid in any urban hood in America. It is your job as a parent to teach your kid right and wrong, good and bad, [drawing blanks]. If you can't do it in the face of some movies and portraits, again, that's on you.

I can and I will. I love mob movies too but my problem with the wall is that it blatantly flaunts a message that counteracts what every politician who approved it would state as their core values. There's a shitload of things that our kids are gonna be exposed to that we have to contend with and this isn't even a big one. It's just that it's completely unneccessary and I'm confused as to what the message is.

No, I wouldn't.

Yeah right. I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem seeing the guy's face everyday that ordered a hit on your brother.

[Assman]

Sounds like you'd also have a beef with that TV show, Growing up Gotti.

"Hey, let's all watch this show where this rich d-bags go around spending cash that their daddy got from murderracketeering."

It's a bit like the Hall of Fame argument around Pete Rose and Barry Bonds. Sure, these guys were motherfuckers, but they were also a big part of what made the game what it is. Can't pretend they don't exist.

At the same time, I can't say that I'd be okay with the mural. I dunno. Seems like murder is a bit more serious than juicing.

[jackie]

Yeah right. I'm sure you wouldn't have a problem seeing the guy's face everyday that ordered a hit on your brother.

In the context of your post, no, I wouldn't.

Would it bug me? Sure. Would I make the same argument you're making here? No.

[Vandelay]

Oh Chiles...come on now. I don't think you're fooling anyone with that testosterone wall that you've built, walking around defending the glorification of murders, making retarded correlations between a 4 year old child being scared when woken up from a sound sleep by an M-80 going off outside his window and the same person being into mountains 40 years later, and blasting goalies for being pussies because they play hockey to play hockey and not to fight. I imagine after walking around with your chest puffed out all day, you go home, walk through the door of your building and tell the doorman what a pussy he is for opening the door for you, then proceed to make yourself a nice cup of herbal tea while curling up to your favrite Lifetime movie before falling asleep, weeping ever so gently into your pillow, saddened once again by having to live in a world with so many mean people.

[Assman]

curling up to your favrite Lifetime movie before falling asleep

Poison Ivy II: Lily has been in rotation on Lifetime movies lately. Don't knock it.

[jackie]

Credit where credit is due, Vandelay. That's pretty fucking funny.

[Crazy Joe Davalo]

Can't you be good to a city and bad person overal? Politicians with porkbarrel policy are bad at a macro sense but good at a local sense. Look, do you think Robin Hood was a good guy? Or are you on the Norman side and consider the merry men Saxon swine?

Why does a whole city it Southern Italy help hide mafia leaders from the Italian government? If mafia leaders were all bad then they wouldn't be immortalized. A lot can be said about their dedication to the people around them (the church, the city, etc.) They do have a code.

It's all marketing though. The mafia have always tried to create an image that they are for the people; and they are merely stealing from the government, outsiders, or people that have accepted an agreement. It's why people play the lottery.

[Vandelay]

Hey Assman, you know that Rose and Bonds are generally considered outcasts and a shame to their sports and subsequently nobody is going around erecting statues trying to deify them all over the place, right? I mean...isn't this the opposite of that?

A lot can be said about their dedication to the people around them (the church, the city, etc.) They do have a code.

I'll freely admit that they do a lot of good things. I even said so much in my post. I'm just amazed that a city/state can get away with authorizing a blatant public homage to people that made their living breaking the law. I don't think Robin Hood lived the way Gotti lived.

[Jeff Potts]

I'm a huge mafia movie fanatic. I love when movies portray the mafiosi as protagonists. It's just much more interesting that way. However, I do agree with your point, Vandelay. We elect our public officials to be champions of the law and we want them to fight corruption (even though we're not so naive to believe they will).

This is a state-sanctioned insult to the state. It's one thing for the city's citizens to pay homage, but for the government to do it, it's just dumb.

[Art Vandelay]

Thanks Jeff. You stated that much more efficiently than I did.

[jackie]

"They do have a code."

As any man must.

The portion of this that speaks loudest to me is "the code." (It isn't called organized crime for nothing.) That's what I always grew up realizing and being taught from a young age. I was also told that if there are "loud bangs" coming from outside of my door keeping me up at night to go back to bed and quit worrying. Don't make yourself involved in an issue you don't have to be involved in.

But I agree with the premise that for the government to push through to allow this seems kinda weird, but I look at it from a different perspective: one organized crime organization is paying its respects to another. Maybe it's part of their code?

[Johnnie]

Uh, that was me above. No idea why it doesn't show my name.

[Jack Klompus]

On the flip side, you have to ask yourself honestly -- would Providence have had its resurgence without the presence of organized crime? Compare it to, say, Detroit, where there is disorganized, retarded crime. Not saying it needs to be celebrated, but a little perspective is needed here. BTW if you can find a major city that is free of corruption, let me know.

And yes, the mural is a non-issue. Remember, you're going to have to explain all kinds of shit to your kids that you want to. Like why Elmo is a hermaphrodite, or why the Wiggles don't live any women, or why Miley Cyrus is married to her father. This is the least of your worries. So go get your tea kettle whistlin', curl your ass up on the sofa, and turn on some Lifetime. Reba's coming on.

[Jack Klompus]

"explain all kinds of shit to your kids that you want to."

Sorry, meant to write "don't want to."

[Vandelay]

Klompus, while I hear you, these two thoughts...

And yes, the mural is a non-issue.

and

Not saying it needs to be celebrated

...appear to contradict each other. I don't think it needs to be celebrated either. That's exactly why i take issue with it.

Oh and earlier in thread I wrote...

There's a shitload of things that our kids are gonna be exposed to that we have to contend with and this isn't even a big one.

...so I don't really think I'm lacking the persepective that you think I'm lacking.

[Jack Klompus]

'...appear to contradict each other'

What I meant was that while I don't believe those families need to be celebrated on a mural -- who cares if they are?

"...so I don't really think I'm lacking the persepective that you think I'm lacking."

Well if you weren't lacking the perspective you wouldn't have bothered posting about it. (Says the guy who hasn't posted anything in over a month).

[Vandelay]

What I meant was that while I don't believe those families need to be celebrated on a mural -- who cares if they are?

I do. Can't some things just be about principle?