Names, Sticks and Stones
What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet. That's what Shakespeare or his friend, Christopher Marlowe, asserted. Yet, if we were to call a rose a stink-cabbage, our minds would shrink from sticking our nose in one. Can we use the name of a criminal organization and turn it into a diner's gratifying experience? Certain Italian associations and the European Union don't think so. The European Union, pressed by the Italian government, has issued a comp laint against La Mafia Se Sienta a la Mesa chain restaurants oblig ing the m to ch ange the ir name. If the chain does not do so, it will be forced to close. Various associations within I taly claim that the co mmon use of the name "Mafia" is an attempt to norm alize that crimina l or ganization and should be stopped by the European Union. The decision has been appealed, and the view of the owners of the original rest aurant an d the chain, is that they do not prom...