0 registered members (),
68
guests, and 22
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums21
Topics43,474
Posts1,090,676
Members10,381
|
Most Online1,254 Mar 13th, 2025
|
|
|
Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196689
03/15/03 06:51 PM
03/15/03 06:51 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,543 Gateshead, UK
Capo de La Cosa Nostra
OP
|
OP

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,543
Gateshead, UK
|
...the Russian Mob, and/or any other non-Sicilian Mob organisations? The reason I ask is this cropped up on a TV show the other day--not a documentary, a British comedy drama--and someone stated the term "Russian Mafia." But I thought that Mafia was a term exclusive to the Italian kind.  In the Russian case, you would use "mob", correct? Thanks for the help, mick
...dot com bold typeface rhetoric. You go clickety click and get your head split. 'The hell you look like on a message board Discussing whether or not the Brother is hardcore?
|
|
|
Re: Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196690
03/15/03 07:42 PM
03/15/03 07:42 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,721 AZ
Turnbull
|

Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 19,721
AZ
|
Good point, Mick. "Mafia" literally means Italian organized crime families with specific "rules," initiations, etc. But it's being used generically to describe any organized crime outfit--Russian, Vietnamese, etc. It's also used generically to describe non-crime organizations. As far back as 1959-60, John F. Kennedy referred to his group of political operatives and intimates as his "Irish Mafia." That name caught on. Even today, when old-time JFK retainers like Pierre Salinger or Ted Sorenson are mentioned in the press, they're often referred to as "members of JFK's Irish Mafia."
Ntra la porta tua lu sangu � sparsu, E nun me mporta si ce muoru accisu... E s'iddu muoru e vaju mparadisu Si nun ce truovo a ttia, mancu ce trasu.
|
|
|
Re: Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196692
03/15/03 10:33 PM
03/15/03 10:33 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 106 kansas
indeterminate_x
Made Member
|
Made Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 106
kansas
|
Mafia is an arabic word meaning sanctuary. It was used during like the fourteen hundreds or something while Sicily was under Arab rule. Criminals mainly Sicilian patriots were hidden from the authorities by groups of locals. The Arabs called it Mafia because they gave criminals safety.
"Fools are they, who die." -Mario Puzo-
|
|
|
Re: Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196693
03/15/03 11:44 PM
03/15/03 11:44 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 39 VA
74transam
Wiseguy
|
Wiseguy
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 39
VA
|
"morte alla Francia Italia anelia!" (Italian for "death to the French is Italy's cry!")take the first letter of each word and what do u get? dats what i read
"To me, being a gangster was better than being president of the United States" - Ray Liotta (Goodfellas)
|
|
|
Re: Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196695
03/16/03 01:10 AM
03/16/03 01:10 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,886 Folsom Prison
DonFerro55
Underboss
|
Underboss
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,886
Folsom Prison
|
This is what the Mafia slogan was used for. That phrase was said during all those times that Sicily and Italy had conflict with the French that I always talk about. They just applied it to the Mafia. Very interesting quote.
The Don Ferro
And you liar, teller of tall tales: you trample all the Lord's commandments underfoot, you murder, steal, commit adultery, and afterward break into tears, beat your breast, take down your guitar and turn sin into a song. Shrewd devil, you know very well that God pardons singers no matter what they do, because he can simply die for a song.
|
|
|
Re: Does the term "Mafia" apply to...
#196698
05/14/03 10:18 PM
05/14/03 10:18 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 48 Tunis/Alcamo/NYC
RosarioAlaia
Wiseguy
|
Wiseguy
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 48
Tunis/Alcamo/NYC
|
Indeterminate X is absolutely correct, as that was the progenitor of the word. However the word obviously is a blanket term for most factions of organized crime.
Like the heart of a lion (Corleone) the warrior dies alone.
|
|
|
|