The Sicilian Mafia

For nearly passel, the mere mention of the name mafia paints a portrait in the subconscious of beefy or corpulent, thuggish-looking men, with peppered or jet black hair, a scar whateverwhere on their showcase, dressed in black or gray pinstriped suits garnished with a flower in their lapel, a fedora cocked angularly everyplace their brow, their necks and fingers decorated in gold jewelry, and carrying a briefcase or any means of transportation for weapons or m unrivalledy.This chain of mountains is typically cliche of the average early twentieth century gangster order in better-looking cities much(prenominal) as New York City and Chicago, and of those individuals roam together in classic films such as The Godfather and Scarface. So then, what is, or who be, the mafia? From where did they come? What did they do? Where are they now? To truly understand what the mafia is and re resigns, unrivaled must travel back in time, centuries ago, where the rule book, and the p eople associated, are rooted from an area known wide for its bountiful history of arts, contend, and recognize Sicily, Italy.A unadulterated understanding of what the mafia consists of would non be land up with step up an understanding of the Sicilian plans of vendetta and omerta. The Italian condition vendetta is rooted in the Latin vindicta signification r eventidege. A much modern equivalent would be boisterous and vengeful pay back. The vendetta was of cardinal a pro foresighteded series of retaliatory, unpeaceful acts in exchange for previous violent acts, such as an eye for an eye pattern or another(prenominal) insolent known as lex tali angiotensin converting enzymes.In antediluvian times, when en soak upment of law by reliable authorities was closely unknown, families would often take matters in their own pop offs, and tiny payment or revenge for a wrong-doing by another by means of vendetta, often by employing violence, to include murder, to redress the ir grievance and restore honor to the injured group or family.Equally important in understanding what maffia is intimately, is the Italian notion of omerta. In its present day usage, omerta is simply a code of silence, much like the Blue cape of Secrecy employed by law enforcement or omissions of knowledge that friends will utilize if a partner is accused of a evil. Historically, however, the root meaning of this Italian word is humanityliness, not unlike the Spanish concept of machismo, which is considered an integral part, if not the very core value, onlyt the code of honor. It was in 13th century Sicily that such men of honor organized themselves to drive divulge foreign invaders, and were willing to kill, if necessary.Protecting the identities of their brothers in the pillow slip of capture, these men of honor invoked omerta, a code of silence, by refusing to provide governing authorities any information. The concept of omerta, then, served to provide a modicum of pr otection for the remaining trunk of those men of honor. No wizard is certain of the ambiguous origins of the name given to groups of organized iniquitouss from Italy, and the word itself had been long debated.One possible action takes place during the time in the middle ages when the island of Sicily was plagued by foreign invaders, particularly by the French Angevins, who imposed unfair taxes upon the Sicilians. Rising up a sort outst their oppressors, several numbers of male citizens, who later came to be called men of honor, banded together to overthrow the French, term shouting, Morte alla Francia Italia anelia Translated, the phrase means Death to the French is Italys cry Taking the stolon letter from for each one word in this Italian phrase, the word M-a-F-I-a was created. other theory thought to be true is that the word mafia was created in 1282 when an enraged group of Sicilian men of honor struck back against a French interchangeier, cleanup him in retaliatio n for raping a Palermo girl on her wedding day. Taking out a young womans virginity a top dog it is given to her spouse is a heinous crime, and during this era, was punishable by death. As news of this revolt bypass from one town to the next, other Sicilians rose up against their French occupiers, killing literally thousands, thus political campaign them off the island, enchantment crying out, Ma fia Ma fia Literally meaning, My daughter My daughter Although neither theory has been be, it is apparent that the basis of the name mafia comes from some root of honor.The structure of the maffia is before establish on a close-knit famiglia or family structure, where the first born(p) male, such as a grandfather who is wise in the ways of family operations based on heritage and traditions, is the capofamiglia, otherwise known as the head of the family or the headman such as the godfather. His routine in command or right-hand man who acts as a pseudo- oldtimer when the capofam ilglia is away, is the sotto capo, or underboss, and could have originally been a brother or first born son.The capofamiglia may have one or more advisors, made up of close friends, brothers, or cousins, who incite him in any decision making regarding la famiglia, known as consigliere. by-line the sotto capo are crews of soldiers, or capodecina, commanded by the sotto capo. The capodecina, literally meaning head of ten is selected by the capofamiglia, and commonly coordinates units of soldiers made up of about ten people. Lastly are associates, who have no familial ties with the famiglia, through blood or initiation, yet aid the famiglia through legal and illegal means.Associates usually consist of corrupt officials, such as natural law officers, judges, or religious heads, who swear out la famiglia by providing any important information. An associate, to la famiglia, is seen as vigour more than a tool, and may be toss away of easily if their services are not require anymor e. The only way to join the famiglia in the ult was to be born or married into the family. As time went on, family of friends, as well as friends of friends, were admitted, but only later on partaking in an initiation observation and swearing their allegiance to la famiglia, or else face the consequences of horrific mutilation or death.Initiation ceremonies included a variety of curses and pledges, where potential members would carry out mingled acts to show their loyalty. Some acts included, but were not throttle to, killing their own family members due to an unpaid debt to the famiglia, decision a rat within the famiglia and sending him a warning, such as mutilation or alarmizing their home life, or other heinous and illegal acts that would show devotion. former(a) means of initiation were ceremonies where a blood oath was implemented.In a testimony from the law of nature interrogative of king of beasts Pellegrino, from the village of Sciacca, Agrigento province, 15 March 1876, Leo proceeded to explain the ceremony he was involved in Marsala tied my index finger of my right hand tightly with a string. He pricked the finger with a pin. The blood dripped on the image of a young-bearing(prenominal) saint. He burned the image, divided it into two portions and gave me one. We demonstrate up our portions in our hands and then threw the contribute into the air.As part of the ceremony I swore that I would remain a member of the Societa that has as its capo put on Vito Vita, and its aim is to commit crimes against persons and property. I was told that the Societa has affiliates in other towns, each town with its own capo, and if an affiliate does not carry out his assigned duties he would be judged by the Societa and condemned to death. Then they taught me the mode of recognizing other affiliates. introductory to BenitoMussolini becoming Italys dictator during the Fascist movement, the maffia was the one of the ways of providing protection and justice end-to-end Sicily without involving law enforcement and government officials. The mafia would rid neighborhoods of vandals and criminals, plot of ground collecting fees for their services. What work they provided for the people would be repaid in money, goods, or by marrying into families so they would profit from work lands. By the time Mussolini came to Sicily, the Mafia had acquired a undischarged deal of power and respect from the citizens they protected and profited from.In 1924, when Mussolini visited Sicily, he was angered by the reception he received. The capofamiglias treated him as nothing more than a mere guest to their land, and told Mussolini that he was under their protection. angry by this notion, fearing opposition to his regime, the dictator avowed to contain the Mafia by means of violence and honor. Mussolini name Ceaser Mori as Prefect, and ordered him to crack down with stain and fire against the Mafia. Because the Mafias power was passable to that of th e declare, an invasion of western Sicily took place, and during 1926-1928, 11,000 suspects in the Mafia were arrested.Ceaser Mori snarl that the Mafia and Sicilian people were not one in the same. Rather, that the island had been suffering under the reign of terror known as the Mafia because the State was absent. woeful governing had created the menace known as Mafia, and that by eliminating that power, encouraged the people of Sicily to break away from criminal oppression. He wanted the Mafia to appreciate that the State was stronger and wanted the men of respect and honor to be brought to their knees and be humble for their vanity and arrogance.During Moris restrictive action of rounding up any individual, proven or otherwise, under suspicion of association for criminal purposes, hundreds fled Sicily to other countries as numerous as pentad hundred entered the United States, some illegally with help from family currently residing in the Unites States. Those arrested and un able to run were found guilty and imprisoned. They were tortured in order to gain confessions, whether true or not, and violence towards individuals was common. Communities would be travel up to ensure that those guilty would not flee the country.Innocent people would be caught up in the violence and tyranny with no ounce of commercial enterprise from the State or other government officials. With Mussolini in control, Sicily faced a reign of terror. after capturing simulate Vito Cascio Ferro, the greatest capo the Mafia ever had, Mori attempted to verbalize a confession from jade Vito, that he was, indeed, the capofamiglia of the Sicilian Mafia. Don Vito denied any accusation, regardless of the countless beatings Mori and his police committed. Finally, after having his legs clamped between a block of wood, Don Vito confessed to his involvement, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.Mussolini announced to the nation little(a)ly after that the Mafia was no more and no force wo uld ever be able to revive it. Following the Fascist movement and World War II, the crime rate in Sicily soared in amongst the upheaval and chaos. more criminals escaped from prison and bandits roamed the streets, wreaking havoc where ever they came. As Fascist members were disposed of, replacements were appointed, some of which turned out to be part of the Mafiosi, such as Calogero Vizzini and Giuseppe Genco Russo.They would present themselves as political dissidents and would become further suitable with their anti-communist position. The Minister of Agriculture, a communist, pushed for reforms where peasants would receive larger shares of bring about and own land that was forced to be sold by owners of large e advances. The Mafia had connections to many landowners and slay several social reformists however, they were unable to stop the process, and many landowners chose to sell their land to the Mafiosi, who offered more money than the government.after the war, the government poured money into rebuilding Sicily, where two Mafia connected officials took control of Palermos Office of reality Works. They gave out building permits to just five people, who were belike Mafia front men. Any construction companies strange with the Mafia were forced to pay protection fees, and many illegally constructed buildings were put up before the urban centers planning was finalized. This was the re-birth of the Sicilian Mafia. During the early 1960s, the first high-profile Mafia combat occurred in post-war Italy.The Sicilian Mafia has always had a long history of violent rivalries, but this was the first to involve many lives, some of which were innocents. In December of 1962, a heroin despatch to America turned up missing, and when the Sicilian Mafia Commission could not decide who to blame, the La Barbera clan, one clan involved, took matters into their own hands. They slay a Mafioso, or member, of the Greco clan whom they had suspicion of stealing heroin. Therein , triggering a war where many would lose their lives.In April 1963, several non-mafiosi were hurt during a shootout in Palermo. Two months later, sixer military officers and a policeman in Ciaculli were killed while trying to dispose of a car bomb. Because the conflict spread beyond Sicily and claimed several innocent lives, a crackdown commenced in which nearly two thousand arrests were made. Mafia activity fell as a issue as clans disbanded and many Mafiosi went into hiding. The Commission was dissolved and would not reform until the late 1960s and early 1970s.During the 1970s, the Mafia in Sicily resumed its normal illicit business, and Corleonesi, the mafia family from the town of Corleone, slowly began growing in power and prestige under the brutal and ambitious leadership of Luciano Leggio. Luciano Leggio became the boss through simply shooting the previous boss, Michele Navarra. Corleonsis primary rivals were the bosses of various powerful Palermo Mafia Families. The Sicil ian Mafia Commission was re-established in 1970, with Luciano Leggio as one of the three leaders, although his underboss, Salvatore Riina, represented him as he was in hiding in mainland Italy for various crimes committed.After Leggio was captured and murdered in 1974, Riina took over as boss and began benignant over allies amongst other Mafia families. In 1978, Riina arranged the murders of Bontade and Inserillos allies, the Reisi and Catania clans bosses. This caused the bosses of Palermo and their men to become isolated. After the murder of Stefano Bontade, another member of the commission, the Second Mafia War began. Hundreds of enemy Mafiosi and relatives were killed by each other, and even some of those who were traitorous in their own clans.In the end, the Corleonesi faction won, and Riina became widely known as the boss of bosses. By the early 1980s, the magistrates Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino began a campaign against the Sicilian Mafia. With the arrest of Tommas o Buscetta, a mafioso turned informant, Falcone and Borsellino compiled their testimonies and organized the maxi Trial, which lasted twenty-eight months. Four hundred seventy-four mafiosi were put on trial, of which 342 were convicted. By 1992, the Italian Supreme philander confirmed these convictions.The Mafia retaliated violently, and in 1988, they murdered a Palermo judge and his son, a prosecutor and an anti-mafia businessman. Four geezerhood later, Falcone and Borsellino were killed by car bombs, and this led to a mankind outcry, along with a massive government crackdown, resulting in the arrest of Riina in 1993. Following Riinas arrest, the Mafia began a campaign of terror on mainland Italy. phaeton spots were attacked, such as places in Florence, Milan, and Rome, go forth ten dead and 93 injured, two churches bombed, and an anti-mafia non-Christian priest shot dead.Leadership of the Mafia was held for a short time by Leoluca Bagarella, and then was passed to Bernardo Prov enzano after Bagarella was captured in 1995. Provenzano ceased the violent campaign and replaced it with pax mafiosi, the quiet mafia, where it allowed the Mafia to slowly regain the power it once held. Provenzano halted the murders of state officials and informants. He felt that by not killing them and their families, it would encourage informants to retract their statements and testimonies and return to the famiglia. After cardinal years of leadership, Provenzano was arrested in 2006.