Comments on: Another Maltese to be proud of

By: John Schembri

John Schembri — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:56:11 +0000

No Amanda , I am not being racist , to tell you the truth I LIKE their accent , (probably as much as Abrahams loves Gozo) they make me smile, probably because of Ranjit . He also drove the TUK-TUK in the James Bond film Octopussy . ( Was “Mind your language” racist?)
http://www.jamesbondmm.co.uk/vehicles/tuk-tuk-taxi.php?id=001.
I was confused once when one shook his head (European body language for ” NO “) when he meant “YES” or “OK”.

By: my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey

my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:25:10 +0000

Dear Amanda – I was making a particular point with regard to Heathrow. In the period we’re referring to there were times when I had to watch while officials dismantled my pens and meticulously examined their contents. But you do have a point about skin colour and racism. The funny thing (if that’s a correct way of putting it)is it works both ways Having a darker complexion can be a plus when travelling in certain countries; strolling through while the “fairer” ones get the “treatment”. Unfortunately it seems that when travelling as a couple, you and your husband are in a lose-lose situation ;)

By: Leo Said

Leo Said — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:41:09 +0000

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080727/social/maltese-dentist-awarded-order-of-canada

Sunday, 27th July 2008
Maltese dentist awarded Order of Canada

Prof. George Zarb is the first Maltese-Canadian to be awarded membership in the Order of Canada.

Prof. Zarb, a University of Malta graduate, left for the United States in 1960 as a recipient of a Fulbright scholarship and pursued graduate and clinical specialty studies at the University of Michigan and Ohio State University.

He was invited to join the full-time staff of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto in 1966 and rose rapidly through the academic ranks to full professor in less than a decade.

Throughout his 39-year career at the university, Prof. Zarb served as professor and department head in his discipline and as associate dean for clinical sciences.

Prof. Zarb has written over 150 papers. He has finished co-authoring his 14th textbook and has contributed chapters to several others.

He is also editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Prosthodontics.

By: Leo Said

Leo Said — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 06:56:18 +0000

This topic is actually about Maltese compatriots, who have achieved eminent status away from their home country.

Leonard Joey has mentioned Pan Am and Lockerbie.

It might be of interest to know that the outstanding forensic examiner in the Lockerbie case was Prof.Dr.Anthony Busuttil, now Emeritus Professor of Forensic Medicine and Head of Forensic Medicine Section, Division of Pathology, The University of Edinburgh.

http://www.lifelong.ed.ac.uk/cpd/courseinfo/engineering/anthony_busuttil.html

http://www.expertsearch.co.uk/cgi-bin/find_expert?1501

By: Amanda Mallia

Amanda Mallia — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:07:49 +0000

John Schembri – You’re being racist too.

(Incidentally, “Ranjit” (Mr Abrahams?)has been a resident of Gozo for around the last 20 years, if I am not mistaken. He obviously likes it here more than you like his accent.)

my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey – I may have been wrong with the “pre-terrorism fears” statement, but why, oh why, should I be treated with suspicion because of my darker complexion, whilst my husband who I am travelling with is not, simply because of his fairer skin?

“That’s the reason why Maltese people were given the special treatment when travelling through Heathrow during the 90s.” – My husband is Maltese too.

By: my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey

my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:01:38 +0000

John Schembri, you’re right. The Green Covered Passport didn’t help matters, and it wasn’t just in the UK. Another museum piece from the il-Quddiem fis-Sliem years.

By: John Schembri

John Schembri — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 06:33:59 +0000

@ Amanda Mallia : at Heathrow: you would have been interviewed by an Indian Hindu , who’s English is more like that of “thousand apologies” (Ranjit?) of “Mind your Language ” fame. Remember the Green Covered Passport? They thought we were Libyans.

By: my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey

my name is Leonard but my son calls me Joey — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 18:03:29 +0000

Amanda Mallia – 1997 was not “way before the fears of terrorism”. Unfortunately terrorism did not start with 9/11. For example in the mid-80s people were killed in terrorist attacks on the Rome and Vienna airports and in the bombing of a nightclub in what was then West Berlin. Then came the terrorist bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in December 1988 which left 270 people dead. That flight left Heathrow but subsequent investigations showed that the suitcase containing the bomb originated from Luqa airport. That’s the reason why Maltese people were given the special treatment when travelling through Heathrow during the 90s. Things eventually returned to what anyone would expect to come across when passing through an international airport.

By: David Buttigieg

David Buttigieg — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:47:51 +0000

@Amanda

“but then are not British lager louts too?”

Ofcourse, and american rednecks and all countries have their own louts too! In Malta, being so small we just seem to see a lot more of them!

But still, on the whole I think we compare very favourably in terms of safety to cities abroad, especially London I would say!

By: Amanda Mallia

Amanda Mallia — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:18:47 +0000

Londo Area – “when asked by an englishman what nationality I am, I cringe”

Why? Yes, many Maltese are an embarrassment, but then are not British lager louts too?