The 10 Commandments of the Mafia

The 10 Commandments of the Mafia

The Italian mafia was founded in Italy in the 1800's, originally as a group of resistance fighters. Their power grew and evolved over time into the idea of organized crime that it is today. The Italian mafia, as it operates in Italy is still very powerful. The traditional organized crime syndicate relied on muscle, direct threat, fear, ignorance and overt acts of violence to achieve its goals. People are not as ignorant today and are more aware of organized crime. Has organized crime declined, or is it just hiding behind the Armani and a well-paid team of lawyers? Today's organized crime has become more "respectable" in that it is more subtle and works the system to its advantage. They are also taking advantage of technology. 

Hierarchy of a Cosa Nostra clan.

1. No one can present himself directly to another of our friends. There must be a third person to do it.
Don't go around telling you're in the organization, idiot. If you have a "friend" who knows another "friend" then it's ok; secrecy.

2. Never look at the wives of friends.
Business is business, don't mess personal life with it, hmkay?

3. Never be seen with cops.
It's not fashionable for a gentleman of our kind, you see.

4. Don't go to pubs and clubs.
Don't complain about your job when you're drunk. At least don't do it in public, moron.

5. Always being available for Cosa Nostra is a duty - even if your wife is about to give birth.
We support your family by giving you a job. You're on duty, whenever we want.

6. Appointments must be absolutely respected.
And you won't have another interview, understood?

7. Wives must be treated with respect.
Business is men's stuff. You are free to "complain" to your business counterpart but don't touch his family. Actually this has changed since bosses wifes started to take control of the "family business" while husbands are in prison.

8. When asked for any information, the answer must be the truth.
If we are asking, that is.

9. Money cannot be appropriated if it belongs to others or to other families.
Our "friends" and affiliated groups (families). We don't want to mess with each other, right? It's more profitable to mess with others.

10. People Who Can't Be Part of Cosa Nostra:
- Anyone who has a close relative in the police.
- Anyone with a two-timing relative in the family.
(two-timing as traitor, giving information to the authorities etc)
- Anyone who behaves badly and doesn't hold to moral values
(respect to the organization and its values)
Check the army/police requirements; pretty much the same applies to any organized armed group.

(Note: When the word "family" is referenced, it means the Mafia family.)