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Walter's Perspective: Reality Show Smears Italian Americans

CHICAGO (CBS) -- I'm a Chicagoan looking to join a public protest, and I've come up with a good one.

Not against NATO or bankers on La Salle Street, but against a TV show being filmed in Chicago. It's called "Mob Wives Chicago," another one of those insensitive, dumb things that pick on Italians -– stereotyping Italians as da Big Al Capone, or da "Big Tuna," Tony Accardo. It's wrong to make fun of ethnic minorities, to embarrass our neighbors or influence our children to think Italians are gangsters.

You want to stereotype Italians? Try Christopher Columbus and Galileo; Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo; Puccini and Verdi; Versace, Gucci and Armani; Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Rocky Marciano. How about Phil Cavaretta?  How about Ron Santo?

C'mon, you TV movie moguls. Get a life. Have some decency and respect. Before you finish filming "Mob Wives Chicago," give it a wrap.

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