[brandonmenc]

> I'm pretty sure she would have found it funny

Exactly!

I think Italian-Americans see "cultural appropriation", caricature, non-Italians portraying Italians in movies, etc as part of the process of integration.

If someone with no Italian heritage wants to open up a pizza shop or sell pasta and put a big statue of Mario in front, go right ahead! If it's good, we'll eat there.

You know who made the best pizzelles in my family - by far? My mom's Irish-German stepfather.