Mafia

            The origins of the secret society known as the Mafia are known to be around since the ninth century. This was during the period when the Island of Sicily was occupied by Arab forces. The Mafia is known to be corrupt, respected, and feared by many people. This made the Mafia a powerful organization. The Mafia has been linked to suspicious activity such as, brutal murders, illegal gambling, prostitution, alleged assassinations and having connections with powerful organizations. These organizations include the FBI, CIA, and highly ranked officials such as the President, Vice-President, and Senators. The lifestyle of a Mafia associate is reckless and luxurious. A member of a Mafia family had many advantages but his life was at risk dealing with crime related jobs.
             A member of the Mafia had many jobs and tasks to accomplish to gain respect. In doing so, members of the organization were required to take an oath upon initiation. This oath included the following five basic principles on which the Mafia is based on: .
             Omerta (a mob term) A code of silence. A vow never to reveal any Mafia secrets or member under the threat of torture or death.
             Total obedience to the boss.
             Assistance to any befriended Mafia faction, no questions asked.
             Avenge any attack on members of the Family, because an attack on one is an attack on all.
             Avoid any and all contact with authorities.
             The nineteenth-century had begun and the Mafia had grown vast and strong. The Mafia had initially had been a small, partisan organization; it had turned into a large criminal oriented society. The Mafia ignored all forms of authority except their own. Their business and daily income included extortion, (obtained through such means as subverting trade unions) smuggling of alcohol during prohibition, prostitution, drug smuggling, as well as simple theft. The term Mafia has now been extended to include groups of people even other Sicilians, engaged in organized crime.