Thank you to the officials that understood that no one should be allowed to do business on state property when they use wording in their business that is denigrating or considered an offensive slur to any ethnic, racial, religious or gender group. In this climate of political correctness, why are the Italians, fourth-largest minority group in the United States, still fair game for ethnic slurs and expected to shrug it off?
It is sad that demeaning slurs are so willingly accepted. Have we become so desensitized by the constant offensive characterizations on television that we forgot the real suffering and discrimination heaped upon this group? Immigrants still remember when it was common to see signs in businesses that read: "No dagos or dogs allowed."
The Wandering Dago food truck proves that lack of sensitivity knows no bounds. When choosing this phrase did the owners not realize it was the equivalent of a black businessman labeling his business with the "n" word? Would anyone want to see or allow such defamation? It is an affront to all productive, law-abiding, proud Americans, regardless of their ethnic roots, race, religion or gender.
Italians love this country and contribute so much to the fabric of what makes it great. We do not deserve, nor should we accept, discriminatory insults by anyone.
Rosanna Aiuppa
Albany