Comments on: What the doctor of psycholinguistics thinks about Joseph and George

By: Amanda Mallia

Amanda Mallia — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:58:04 +0000

Romegas – Consider yourself lucky! At least as a teenager, you:

* were not attending a peaceful protest (at the time of the schools issue, too)

* got hit by a tough-looking policeman

* got arrested under some pretext supposedly concerning the same protest, instead of the policeman being cautioned for hitting you

* kept in a dark cell for over a day without proper food or the possibility of using a toilet

* eventually made to sign a statement written by the police (You have to understand those times to understand why someone would be coerced into signing such a statement)

Luckily it did not happen to me, but it did happen to someone I know.

And do you know what? One of the policemen who was in the forces at the time is currently a prominent face in the MLP.

“Bidu gdid”? You must be joking!

By: misi

misi — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:26:08 +0000

http://www.theroiworld.com/game/2268/Poodle_s-Party.html

By: lino

lino — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 01:50:09 +0000

Yes Albert,
we have moved on and away from being a blood shod police state thanks to who?
No Albert what is politically wrong in Malta is not the fault of PN but MLP. Maybe I am dreaming but, when ever there was an issue of national importance, the NP in opposition have only opposed the MLP where they deemed the issue to be anti patriotic e.g integration. Other wise they always sought to cooperate e.g. the republican constitution.
The same cannot be said about MLP. The MLP have always opposed issues of national importance because every time these were brought about by PN governments, the MLP opposition got green with envy for not being the party achieving the goal and opposed it even through violent means e.g. independence; the proof being that in a successive term, in power, the MLP would invent some insignificant achievement and try to ‘paint’ it important. For example to me it is clear that Jum il-Helsien has more historical than political relevance. We were then telling our garage tenants (the British forces) to empty the premises according to the rental agreement (independence). Big deal. It only served the target to politically divide the nation; and to add insult, in spite of the NP did not oppose the politically uneventful event, the MLP claim it it as proof of political victory. Some reconciliatory effort indeed!
Albert, here we’re not talking about the good or bad every day decisions in running the country, like social policies, investment policies, employment policies and what have you, wher I agree there have been good and bad decisions taken by both parties in government; we are talking about policies of national importance.
Take for example the EU issue; just for the sake of being different, the MLP opposed and invented the ‘Partnership’ novel and the ‘Svizzera fil-mediterran’ utopia.
The ‘Smart City’ issue, being the size it is and the employment it promises to promote, makes it an issue of national importance, yet MLP opposed it. Without entering into the merits as to who did more and who did less to build Malta, yes it was both PN and MLP governments, but Malta is politically what it is thanks to PN governments who have had the wisdom to portray our country as trustworthy and not the litigating image the MLP have always projected Malta in international politics.
This, Albert is the essence of politics.
Yes Malta has to move away from dominant party voting, which is a loose term to me, and by which I understand the party where one was born into and where he hopes to always belong.
Come that day, Albert! But for that to happen, all political parties must have a good sense of political direction where it matters most. For that to happen, you can’t have MLP being offended because non MLP contributors are discussing the leadership choice. After all if MLP wants me to possibly vote for its party and its new leader, it is her duty to learn what the alternative voter out there is expecting,and not accuse debaters of intruding into MLP internal matters. It’s OK MLP members are going to choose their leader, but the whole electorate has to option to buy or not to buy.
Grumbling is synonymous to the Maltese nation, but apart from that politics is conducted upon sound principles targeted in the right direction.

By: amrio

amrio — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:33:59 +0000

@Albert Farrugia

I agree with the general gist of your last post, and with most of the arguments contained therein.

1) I believe that 1st of all, generally speaking, those who normally vote PN, but didn’t vote this time around should be split in 2. The 1st group are those who did not do so for their own egoistic reasons, those who shout ‘REFORM’ but then shout ‘NIMBY’, who solemnly cry for justice but then kick up a fuss if they’re not given preferential treatment for their blueness. This group should be kicked up the ass and discounted from argument (2)

2) The 2nd group are those you mentioned in your last sentence, who see a need for change but, for various reasons, would rather die of torture then vote MLP.

3) That brings us to square 1. Do you therefore agree that Malta dearly needs a new MLP leader that breaks completely from the recent and remote past, one which restores the long-lost confidence of a good part of Maltese society in another party that is not PN?

4) Finally, do you think any of the current contenders which are being mentioned fits the grade?

By: Charles J Buttigieg

Charles J Buttigieg — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:51:11 +0000

I just cannot imagine how can any person stoop so low to imply publicly and mention names, that a potential Labour leader may run away with the young wife of one of his exponents. Indeed what political gain does this hate-monger expect to acquire out of this? Can she imagine the pain that comments in that regard cause to other people?

In the past I felt sorry for this columnist and suspected that she needs professional help,now I am wishing that I have it in me to give to her some of what she is dishing out to others,alas to no avail.

Thank God we are only plagued with two of this kind and the other one will be keeping his venomous mouth shut for the next four years to safeguard his suspended prison sentence. One day,hopefully soon, the devil may take care of the other as God is too merciful with unrepentant sinners.

[Moderator – It may yet happen given that Alfred Sant made a pact with the Devil – and the Devil let him down. For those unfamiliar with Charles J Buttigieg, he’s a nobody who was given a job at Air Malta during those dark days under Mintoff, and was seen rolling around on the floor like a hysterical baboon during the strike.]

By: Edward Clemmer

Edward Clemmer — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:46:28 +0000

@Corrine: We do construct our interpersonal worlds, and language is a tool for doing so; and propogandists appreciate the power of language. The mistake is when language is used in opposition to the social reality, when the truth of the social reality is accepted as true, and the language is in contradiction to this accepted truth. Language and rhetoric can move persons to action and faith–and so it is used, and sometimes with great effect on our social worlds. Obviously, the political campaign just completed also indicates which language was regarded as most truthful and real. And Lawrence Gonzi’s abilities with language and his message was one of the major reasons for his success–and as it was judged more in agreement with the social worlds the voters wanted to construct. Language is not word magic, although some persons have regarded it as such.

By: Romegas

Romegas — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:06:49 +0000

@ Albert Farrugia
I do not want to get into a diatribe with you Albert. Definitely not my style. Before I continue I would like to say that those who did not vote in this election had their reasons and are fully entitled to them If they felt hurt by this government and wanted to register this, they were freely entitled to do so.
However I would like to say that I was one of those who who bore the brunt of 80’s Labour. I’m sure there are others like me on this blog, who may want to share their experience.
As i was a Church School student I did not have the comfort of l-ghoxrin punt invented by Labour to shut us out of university. So I had to sit for 5 A levels to get in. An A level was worth 5 points. When I finally got there, I was told that the Law course, which i had hoped to join was not going to open in that particular year, so I had to register for another course. Then, in 1984, after a protest round the University ring road , which was then completely void of cars, supporting the student teachers who were on strike, Labour thugs armed with chains and pieces of wood invaded the University quadrangle and beat us up. I am still carry physical marks of that aggression. And I still shudder when I remember that sight. That evening, Xandir MAlta reported that the students had quarreled against each other and some had ended up with ‘minor injuries’.
These things take a long time to heal.
I was comforted that even Wenzu Mintoff is now calling on the new Labour leader to apologise.
So, like others who have been through similar events, I have personally experienced Labour thuggery.
I have moved on, but the pain lingers on.

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:06:05 +0000

Yes Albert I agree there are NO saints in politics, and few elsewhere.

Corinne Vella, I think you are right. Very short sighted of them – surprise surprise!!

By: Albert Farrugia

Albert Farrugia — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:33:36 +0000

@lino
I know those times perfectly. And thanks to the wisdoom of our politics leaders, both Nationalist and Labour, we have moved on. Malta is what it is today because politicians of BOTH main parties contributed to its construction. And what is wrong in Malta is ALSO the fault of politicians from BOTH sides. But NO party has a monopoly for being the “good guy” party. Malta needs to move away from the dominant-party system that has evolved. We cannot remain in a situation in which people grumble all year round, then vote for the government in a general election. This is very untypical for a western style democracy.

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:07:10 +0000

David Buttigieg: George Abela appeals to people who wouldn’t normally vote Labour. To paraphrase Macchiavelli: “The friend of my enemy is my enemy”.