Comments on: The human rights heroes

By: Antoine Vella

Antoine Vella — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:52:43 +0000

All in all it is very fitting that Mintoff should be awarded the Gaddafi Human Rights Prize. I hope he will soon receive the Mugabe Medal for Democracy and the Fidel Freedom Award, both of which he richly deserves.

Oh, and the Kim Il Sung Committee for Civil Rights will surely come up with some fitting award, too.

[Moderator – Yes, you’re right about that. The ‘Gaddafi Human Rights Prize’ for Dom Mintoff…. entirely fitting.]

By: John Schembri

John Schembri — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 09:04:54 +0000

@ Worker :where did I lie?

By: philip dupuis

philip dupuis — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 18:19:07 +0000

Modeerator. “What the two have in common is….”! Are you not putting two people on the same whatever level. How I would appreciate to be put on the same level as Napoleon for his ambitions even referring to my and his defects. To have the same defect as a great man like Napoleon, mind you, is an honour. That’s a compliment, and wish it be yours too. Having something in common with one of the greatest men we would not be just two ordinary people. Seriously not joking. If you don’t feel it that’s your problem.

[Moderator – Philip, you’re boring me rigid. Isn’t there a beach you can go to?]

By: worker

worker — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:59:11 +0000

@ John Schembri I am sorry if you feel insulted because I showed you up for the liar you are. I could sign up as John Schembri and be Joe Borg nobody would know now would they. So Worker or Joe Borg nobody can really say who I am. The only person we know is real is Daphne, and maybe her sisters.

I’m afraid I cannot run a business, actually my way of thinking would bankrupt me in a few weeks if not days” Think about this statement you made .Could it be that your ideology cannot be put to practice? My ideology cannot be put to practice because I am a single person, but the state can help more than I can instead of spending money on contracts that should have costed much less. On the other hand I am a person who does not beleive making a lot of money is that important. I am happy living in a comfortable house, well clothed and fed, and taking a holiday when possible. My extra cash goes in insurances, I have a life insurance and a health insurance. You might want to be a millionaire, but I have no such desires. I am no businessman
and I am not ashamed to say so. I have no business sense and I don’t regret it. I am no politician either, I am not capable of becoming a minister so what?

You find people who are hungry for power and money in all walks of life. You find them in the PN and in the MLP. I do not envy the rich, but I hate to see people getting rich through the suffering of others, or through corruption.

By the way I never said I was a communist I told Corinne – As you have already guessed I’m a socialist at heart (YOU MIGHT EVEN CONSIDER ME a communist) Since Corinne and I do not see eye to eye on politics I thought she would think me an extremist. I hope that like me you don’t like to see people suffering no matter what your political point of veiw is.

By: A.Attard

A.Attard — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:27:29 +0000

@worker
worse than fascism there is socialism running in some others’ veins(or arteries?) or heaven forbid communism. Which is the worst “ism”?

By: philip dupuis

philip dupuis — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:38:35 +0000

Re Computers. Frank Borda had on sale the BBC computers that I still have. I even have a Philips master game with a lot of differnt games. These were bought during Mintoff government. Why worry, the example of the Government Computer Centre buries all that has been written about omputers and Mintoff period.
I am surprised that moderator has put Mintoff on equal footing with the greatest general, the greatest administrator of a country, the greatestes legislator, (his legal system still prevails even in Malta,) That conqueror who just as he landed in Malta introduced the unthinkable education for all in Malta.
Perhaps your dear Mussolini, that pocket dictator who never bowed his head when haranging the masses, but his eyes staired at heaven is your typical head of State or who was called quite rightly the clown dictator
Some one reasoned that since the PN was set up prior to the advent of Mussolini and his fascism then the PN could not be called fascist. Poor fellow. Since you were born an infant then you cannot become a man. Stupid reasoning.
Yes Mussolini fasciscism was the idol of the PN. “L’Uomo mandato da Dio” A worse swear could not be uttered.
Fascism still runs into the veins of a lot of bloggers in this site. You can feel it without much effort.

[Moderator – Can’t you read simple sentences? I didn’t put Mintoff on ‘an equal footing’ with Napoleon. I wrote that the only thing the two have in common is that they are/were both midget-sized megalomaniacs.]

By: John Schembri

John Schembri — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:26:56 +0000

@ Worker : keep your nickname but if you want to insult people don’t do it while hiding behind a false name.

“I’m afraid I cannot run a business, actually my way of thinking would bankrupt me in a few weeks if not days” Think about this statement you made .Could it be that your ideology cannot be put to practice?

The only communism which still survives is Castro’s . Do you like it?

If you watch some of Mintoff’s successors in the MLP you will find that they are filthy rich and that they don’t care a hoot about the environment. They are Champagne Socialists , they are worse than the Nationalists. Probably they are money hungry like you know who.

By: Corinne Vella

Corinne Vella — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:11:05 +0000

Worker: The only way to make property cheaper is to increase supply so that it exceeds demand. That’s unlikely to happen given the short supply of land here and it wouldn’t exactly improve the quality of the natural environment, would it?

“Let’s face it we have a much better system now?” Yes we do. It’s the sort of system we needed back then, only your hero thought otherwise.

You’re right, I guessed you’re a socialist – one in the mould of Dom Mintoff who preached socialism while practising elitism. As I said earlier, the SWS improved the chances of some, though only through means that were not always fair, but effectively excluded many others. Demand rose but then supply didn’t, increasing the value of that scarce commodity called tertiary education – just like the property market, in fact.

You see, like Mintoff, you may claim to be a socialist. In reality you’re a free marketeer.

[Moderator – Falling house prices would also have a catastrophic effect on the economy in general, and would be particularly devastating for those still paying off a loan taken out when their house or flat was worth more. Look at the present situation in Britain.]

By: worker

worker — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:25:24 +0000

@ Doc – For your information computers in Malta still arrive later and are more expensive than in the UK. I’ve just brought one with me from the UK, and guess what, when I checked at a renowned computer shop in Malta – Theirs were not the latest version and much more expensive than the one I got. The same can be said about many other electronic goods.

@ Corinne My complaint is both at the high cost of property in Malta and the destruction of the environment. And all this to make just a handful of people rich. As you have already guessed I’m a socialist at heart (you might even consider me a communist) and I believe everyone should have the chance for a decent life. Some could be stinking rich for all I care, but not at the expense of the rest of the population or the environment.

I’m afraid I cannot run a business, actually my way of thinking would bankrupt me in a few weeks if not days. But companies who wanted to use computers in the 80s introduced them. Bluebell introduced computers back then, of course they did not use ZX81. De la Rue was another company which used computers.

As for tertiary education, I agree that it was not the best system but it gave some people the chance to follow a university course, which without the WSS they would never have followed. Let’s face it we have a much better system now. Probably the best in the UE, but I’m sure that if anyone wanted to find fault with it they would.

“Afraid of repercussions at work because you’re not a PN supporter, are you? More likely it’s because the thought has entered your foggy brain that you’re pursuing a private interest during public working hours.”

For your information I take my ANNUAL HOLIDAYS for Santa Maria, next week I might write if I have the time but only after 2.00pm.

By: philip dupuis

philip dupuis — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:09:37 +0000

@ Amanda Mallia: those are not my words I do not have the stature to give such an appreciation. Those are words of your dear Dr.E.Mizzi “Malta ghad taghfsu fuq qalba”(If my Maltese is correct) Those are the exact words of Dr.E. Mizzi. Ask any worthy historian to verify, don’t rely on me.
Mintoff did not practise parish politics, he was international. If you say he was ambitious, I would agree, but he turned his ambitions to the greatest benefit of Malta.
What is the worth of a national politician. If he is devoid of ambitions then he is just an amateur. A head of a company needs to be ambitious- look at Farsons and its success. Have a look Mr.Albert Mizzi the successful entrepreneur. Take as an example the directors of HSBC(international) and see where there ambitions have lead them Mintoff was that sort of ambitious politician and applied it for the good of Malta.
His detractors out of jealousy did everything to destroy him, to put spokes in the wheels to denigrate him. Sometimes reactions provoke counter reactions. And history evolves.
History gives us a number of great people whose ambition made them reach the highest posts. Then adversaries intervened and might have spoiled their good intentions.Nobody loved peace more than Napoleon. But there was England to create obstacles, and a chain of events brought his down fall at Waterloo. While trying to flee to Louisiana that he had sold to America, he found the harbours blocked by the English Navy. He did not bother much, he reasoned that the English people where reasonable enough to treat him as he should have been. He put his trust in the wrong hands. They exiled him, not to Elba this time from where he could escape, but to Saint Helena, in the middle of nowhere. He died there. His merits were recognised. The French who many suffered under him, forgot their sufferings and claimed his ashes that lie at the Invalides surrounded by the many flags of battles he won. and thousands still visit his last resting place. No one could dare denigrate Napoleon and say he was not a French patriot.Yes perhaps the Royalists or aristocrats.Every country has its history and events that coincide.

[Moderator – The only thing that Mintoff has in common with Napoleon is that he, too, is a megalomaniacal midget.]