Omertà
The omertà is a popular attitude, common in areas of Italy where the Mafia is strong, that implies never collaborating with the police. It can be intended also as a vow of silence among mafiosi. A common definition is the "law of silence".
It is common, in such areas, that after a Mafia-related murder people will behave as though they are not able to remember hearing or seeing anything, and no one will be willing to talk to the police.
The origin of the word is often traced to Spanish, meaning manliness. In English, it is often rendered omerta, without an accent.
Among italian Mafia members, it means that they will not involve the police or the government in the affairs of the italian Mafia, and will deny its very existence. Joe Valachi was the first person to betray the omertà when in 1963 he publicly spoke out about the existence of the Mafia, when he testified before the United States Congress. Within Mafia culture, breaking the oath of omertà is punishable by death.
Omertà likely influenced the recent movement of Stop Snitchin', which works the very same way.
In popular culture
The omerta has many references in popular culture. These include:
- Omertà is the title of a novel written by Mario Puzo, ISBN 0345432401.
- Omerta is a Manchester (UK) band.
- The album Viva Emptiness by Swedish melancholic doom metal band Katatonia features a song named Omerta.
- Omerta is the title of a Season Three episode of the television show Millennium about two "angels" that may have supernatural healing powers.
- Omerta is the title of the 5th track on the Album Ashes of the Wake by the metalcore band Lamb of God.
- Omerta (MMORPG) is a game played at www.barafranca.com
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- Omerta is the name of the tenth mission in Maifa: The City of Lost Heaven
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