[Dexsal]

November 23, 2004 -- THE Italian Anti-Defa mation League needs to act with the speed of a bullet.



At the Peter Gotti trial yesterday, a huge chunk of time was consumed with the subject of kissing — Italians kissing.

First, there were endless videotapes of wiseguys standing outside the Ravenite Club on Mulberry Street, hugging and kissing each other on the cheek.

In the witness box in Manhattan federal court was Frank Frappiano, 42, the latest inductee into the informers' Hall of Infamy.

The videotape kissing spree was first brought by prosecutor Victor Hou.

Anxious looks flashed around the courtroom.

Then the defense attorney for Huck Carbonero, Martin Geduldig, asked Frappiano, "Is kissing each other common among Italian-Americans?"

Frappiano: "Basically, it's an organized-crime thing."

Attorney Geduldig would say afterward: "Let's face it, what he really said was only organized-crime members kiss each other." Gadzooks! What is this Yankee court trying to do to the Italian male?


I've seen Italian boxers kiss each other on the cheek. I've seen Pavarotti kiss on the cheek, yes, and I think I've been kissed on the cheek a bazillion times.

What are we to suspect, that the moment you get a manly peck on the cheek you should immediately go out and buy a .38?

Either that or a tube of lipstick?

This is serial ethnic insulting at its worst. Defense attorney Joseph Bondy joked, "Peter Gotti just kissed me on the cheek and made me the acting boss."