Talk:Cosa Nostra

DIRECT PAGE

FBI site[edit]

This page is copied verbatim from the La Cosa Nostra page, but I cannot tell if this is permitted use, the WP copyrights page lists US governmental photographs as being public domain, but I cannot find a reference for text being public domain. Before I tag this as copyright infringement, can anyone confirm this article's © status?

--kylet 10:49, 15 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If it's written by an FBI employee, it's a Work of the United States Government, and thus PD, but a cursory glance didn't tell me who wrote it. Mikkel 18:54, 18 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

This article should be deleted and redirected to Mafia--24.67.253.203 05:11, 21 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Ok guys, I put this article instead of the previous one becouse it was wrong, in particoular it described cosa nostra as an exclusive american phenomenon!!!...that's why I've preferred to put it on the right place (see American Cosa Nostra). The current content comes from the italian wikipedia and is utterly correct...Now, we should make a patient and passionate translation.

FrancescoUaf 23:32, 26 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

== Doesn't it need the "La"? I've never heard anyone use the term "Cosa Nostra" by itself. It's always "La Cosa Nostra," which to go by "This thing of ours" translation is necessary. Can a native Italian speaker elucidate? Iamvered 21:14, 27 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

It's Cosa Nostra. The FBI used it for media purposes or something and still uses it (it confused me the first time too). Its mentioned in Carl Sifakis's Mafia Encyclopedia. There's even tapes of Joe Valachi saying Cosa Nostra. I think it would mean "the our thing" with the la, which really wouldn't make sense. Also I think we need a section on the Cosa Nostra page for the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, since technically, both use the same ass

"Cosa Nostra may also be used to refer to the Sicilian Mafia or a certain crime family (not necessarily the whole organization)."

This article incorrectly infers that Cosa Nostra is the American mafia. Cosa Nostra is the Sicilian mafia, originating from the lemon groves in and around Palermo in the 1800s. Some members of the Cosa Nostra emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s, but obviously could not take the entire organisation with them, therefore the article is misleading. For a definitive English-language history (meticulously backed with authentic Italian sources), please refer to John Dickie's 'Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia' (ISBN:0340824352). Just as Camorra is the Neapolitan mafia and 'Ndrangheta is the Calabrian mafia, Cosa Nostra is the Sicilian (and original) mafia. angstpristine 21:39, 27 June 2006

This is a real everyday phrase in Sicily. "Cosa Nostra" means "Our Affair" or "Our concern" or "Our Solution".