The Leader and his wife pull a party trick and take the children to the Palace
I switched on the television with perfect timing – at the precise moment the leader of the opposition and Mrs Muscat were presented to the pope, each one carrying a twin.
For crying out loud, I said to myself. Must he pull a party trick at every state occasion?
Nobody else took the children, grandchildren, or in Censu Tabone’s case, great-grandchildren – and some of them have entire armies they could have brought along.
But Joseph and Michelle can always be relied upon to beach protocol if they think it will get them some attention. And they are sufficiently ill-bred to be blissfully unaware of their own appalling manners.
And so they turned the formal presentation of the opposition leader to the pope into the equivalent of a family audience at the Vatican.
It was only a matter of time before the leader and his wife brought the twins out of the arsenal of political weaponry and used them. I had been trying to guess what occasion they would use to launch their children on the public stage (because believe me, with people like that it’s inevitable) and silly me, I hadn’t thought it would be with the pope at the palace.
But I’m not going to cavil about that. If they wish to demonstrate appallingly poor judgement by taking their children where they are patently not invited (or where an exception was wrongly made for them, perhaps at their insistence), then that is up to them.
But as an experienced parent I have to ask: why in heaven’s name were those children not made by their parents to stand up straight and walk up to the pope on their own two feet?
Instead, we were treated to the spectacular hamallagni of Joseph and Michelle carrying their large children – Michelle on her hip, for goodness’ sake – right up to the receiving line of the prime minister and Mrs Gonzi, the pope, the president and the first lady.
Not only did they fail to make their children walk, as would be expected of children from a better sort of social background (but what am I saying – children from a better sort of social background wouldn’t have been there in the first place), but then when they reached their hosts and the guest of honour they failed to put the children down so that they could give and receive formal greetings.
Instead, they stood there like two clumsy chumps chatting at a backyard barbecue, carrying children who can stand and walk and oh-so-casual as though they were expecting the hamburgers to be brought out any minute.
Policy or no policy, it’s with these things that you can really get the measure of a man. I hate to rub it in, but I really can’t stand this all-enveloping crassness any longer.
If it is Dom Mintoff’s cavalier disregard for good manners and protocol, deployed as a sign of power, that Joseph Muscat so admires about him, then he’s got some heavy thinking to do. Times have changed, and the vast majority of people no longer find such vulgarity amusing, though a fixed 40 per cent apparently do.
But let’s give Muscat the benefit of the doubt. Nothing in his upbringing, or his wife’s, has taught him how to deal with these situations. He needs advice and he’s clearly not going to get it from peasants like Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia, and I use ‘peasants’ in the French Revolution sense and not as a description of rural endeavour.
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And this grandiose display of etiquette can be seen here
http://maltastar.com/pages/r1/ms10dart.asp?a=8492
How sad….just listen to the clip on mlatasart and you can hear Michelle baby-talking: “say hello,….say hello….the Pope….say hello….”
I am sure the couple went to Chik King afterwards to celebrate the moment.
Here’s the link, for posterity’s sake:
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/r1/ms10dart.asp?a=8492
Just saw this on the BBC:
‘The Republic of Malta, whose population is strongly Catholic, has no state religion, the president pointed out to the Pope. ‘
The President must have been misunderstood. This is what the Maltese constitution says in Article 2:
(1) The religion of Malta is the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion.
I suggest everyone reads the excellent speech delivered by the President. He said that Malta is not a confessional state.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100417/local/multiculturalism-does-not-mean-we-have-to-renounce-to-our-beliefs-president-abela
TIm: Indeed, the BBC did a blooper on this one… The President said that whilst Malta is a secular state, it has profound Catholic roots.
BBC is right. Malta is not a religious state but a secular state with significant Roman Catholic influence. Our parliament is secular (in principle) and it’s probably why one would expect divorce to be discussed by our MPs.
If Malta was a religious state this would be simply impossible. We would be similar to Iran where Sharia dictates the laws of the country. If that was the case in Malta than the laws of our country would be the Ten Commandments and supplementary legislation derived directly from the bible and Roman Catholic rules.
Iran has divorce and Mut’a, a form of temporary marriages, where you get married for a couple of days of less, effectively getting state-sanctioned hanky panky. Iran is not a religious state, but the playground of men born in a religious dynasty.
This was Persia after all! It’s not easy to lose all that cultural baggage!
Saudi Arabia, would have been a much better example.
This man lacks manners. He has already pointed his shoe soles at the Chinese prime minister and cockily addresses prime minister Gonzi by his first name on national television.
He is crass and vulgar. Daphne you found the appropriate term for them – chavs!
Daphne, do not rule out that those at TYOM will now come out with a couple of photos of God-knows-who – could be Tony and Cherie Blair – carrying their children to a meeting with the Pope.
[Daphne – In doing so they will only further demonstrate their ignorance. There is a great difference between a personal family audience with the pope and formal presentation as part of a parade of other dignitaries.]
A breach of etiquette of grandiose proportions! X’pastazata!
I also think it’s bad taste what the Muscats did. In fact when the Pope landed and he took his place next to the President to exchange speeches, just behind them I saw a mother holding her toddler on her lap, who was clearly very restless and a smaller child sitting next to her and I said to myself who could that ignorant fool be to drag the kids to this event?
She could have at least take one of the seats behind, but no, she felt she had to show everyone that her kids were privileged to sit just behind the Pope – kemm ahna redikoli.
[Daphne – This business of separation between the domain of adults and the domain of children is one of the great cultural dividers. I remember chatting to somebody once who was very offended because her children (aged under 10) hadn’t been invited to some wedding with her.’But children are never invited to weddings, not unless they’re part of the very immediate family or are bridesmaids or something,’ I said. She looked at me as though I was from some other planet. ‘What do you mean? Children are always invited to weddings. When you invite somebody to a wedding you invite the whole family with children, otherwise it’s rude.’ Oh well, to each his own.]
I noticed that child on her mother’s lap, it looked out of place. I was amazed that she was allowed to let her child sit on her lap in such an undignified manner.
I wonder what the German pope would have made out of that. Germans are very formal and correct.
Don’t you know the Catholic Church loves children? Even a little too much!
OMG – was this woman serious?
There are some weddings where – wait for it – entertainers are provided for young children.
Most probably they will misinterprete your article AGAIN, and accuse you of attacking his twins.
Since they’re unwittingly part of his political arsenal, I’d say they’re fair game. It’s Muscat’s fault.
Well said Baxxter
@Daphne
Have you ever watched Sergio Leone’s Once Upon a Time… The Revolution?
[Daphne – A Fistful of Dynamite. No.]
Then you should.
I say this because I noticed your references to Mao Zedong and “peasants” (in the revolutionary sense).
Sergio Leone opens his Once Upon a Time … The Revolution (aka A Fistful of Dynamite, aka Duck You Sucker!) with a quotes from Mao, and his film is about “peasant” revolutionaries in Mexico.
The film’s message is that revolutions are messy, and not really needed.
PS Have you ever heard that some historians see a link between the Icelandic volanco’s eruption 200 years ago and the French Revolution?
From the article in Mltasrat, we get the impression that Labourites were more than proud that their beloved leader managed to get in contact with Pope. The Times, in contrast, did not mention anything regarding Muscat, as far as I know. I bet the guys at Mtlsastra will change/remove the video from their site should they receive such instructions from one sensible person (i.e. not Kurt Farrugia)
Maltastar thought it best not to mention the twins, in case they are accused of attacking them.
So who are those two children in the filmat?
http://www.maltastar.com/pages/r1/ms10dart.asp?a=8492
Introducing their children to the pope was a nice thing to do but it wasn’t appropriate for this occasion.
Did you not notice Mrs George Abela joining in with the MPs’ clapping when she and the president walked into the tapestry room with the pope for the official photoshoot?
It was reminiscent of those who clap when a plane lands, and looked ever so out of place and unbecoming for a president’s wife.
Ara vera kaz iehor ta’ memorja selettiva… Mela nsejt li f’ritratti simili nisa ta’ presidenti ohra dejjem kienu jigu mdeffsa?
Ghalfejn jahasra nghidu hazin meta’ jkun hazin u tajjeb meta’ tajjeb minghajr ma’ wiehed jara minn liem naha tkun qed issir il-haga?
[Daphne – Who’s saying anything about nisa?]
I did not say anything about the president’s wife being there. I commented, on the other hand, about her clapping (inappropriately, given the occasion) when the MPs clapped on the pope, the president and her entering the tapestry room.
Then again, given that you chose to answer in Maltese, maybe you didn’t understand the gist of what I said.
This all pales into insignificance when one considers the President’s speech. Did you hear what he had to say? It was revolting – he attacked secularism and played the pope’s tune on divorce. He certainly doesn’t represent those of us who long for a strict separation of state and church. Despite all of Muscat’s faults, I’m so glad Abela did not win the leadership contest.
Come off it, C.Attard! He is the president of a Catholic country, and the great majority are really grateful to him for spelling out the real sentiments of the GREAT majority of the Maltese. If you have a grudge, then with due respect, lump it.
In the context of your article here, Daphne, and most of the comments that have followed allow me to dare articulate a different opinion, please!
Protocol is fine! It creates an atmosphere of appropriateness and politeness. I have already raised this issue here in a different context.
In the gospels we have a somewhat similar situation. Children, perhaps also encouraged by their parents, were pushing or rushing to touch Jesus. Jesus’ apostles tried to shoo them away for some reason.
Jesus’ response was, Let the children come to me and do not stop them for to such as these the reign of God belongs!
I thought we may have something here to think about.
[Daphne – The pope isn’t Jesus.]
This was a formal state occasion, not a religious event.
Daphne, I take it that you’ve missed this hilarious article on The Times online version – http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100417/local/luqa-phallic-monument-hidden-with-banner
“Members of the Neo Catechumenal Movement partially hid the infamous Luqa monument with a banner as the Pope passed through Luqa on his way to Valletta this afternoon.
The large black and white banner carried the words “Cammino Neo Catecumenale” and a colour picture of the Madonna and child.
The phallic like structure in Luqa has made it to the international news in the past days after the mayor requested its removal.
THE POPE WAS DRIVEN RIGHT AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT, WITH THE YOUTHS TRYING TO KEEP UP.”
Loved the last bit. it really must have been a funny sight!
They held on to their children just to make sure that no one would put them aside at the last moment. They surely knew that it was inappropriate, but know knowing Joseph he is full of surprises on state occasions.
PEASANTS!
I respect the president immensely but not his sense of dress. His ill-fitting jacket reminded me of Natan Sharansky crossing the Glienike Bridge wearing a Soviet suit. The president’s jacket-sleeves are too long.
[Daphne – On a serious note, I really wonder why Bortex, for example, which sells widely in Malta, does not produce a special fitting for Maltese men, and instead places on the Maltese market suits tailored for men in other markets. It is a fact – look around you – that the ‘typical’ Maltese male figure has legs and arms which are proportionately and significantly short in relation to the torso. Maltese men are short, but unlike say, Spanish or Portuguese men, they are not a perfectly proportioned small version of a bigger man. So you get this uncomfortable proportion of a fairly large torso (the torso of a taller man) with short legs and short arms. The net result is that Maltese men have to buy suits tailored for taller men so that the jacket and waist fit, but then the sleeves and trouser-legs are too long and wide. The trousers pool around the shoes and the obligatory bit of shirt-cuff which should be on view is buried in droopy sleeves. This is actually a big problem for men here, particularly because there is not much choice in the way of suits. I sympathise because for years – before the range of clothes for women grew – I had a similar problem. My arms are disproportionately long by something like three inches, and I could never find suit-jackets that didn’t make me look like I had borrowed my kid sister’s school uniform.]
Made-to-measure anyone?
Exactly. It’s the president of the republic, eff eff ess. Just call a bespoke tailor.
@ H. P. Baxxter – You forgot the apostrophe.
If you listened carefully to the President’s speech, you would not have bothered to comment on what he was wearing. His speech reflected his feelings and I think that we should not be bothered as to what he was wearing. I think he is a dear person and he is a good, humble president – thank God he lost the MLP leadership race – we have gained a gentleman at the top.
Here’s a “fine” example of such men:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100418/social/grand-lottery-winner
I believe that Fenech Adami started his premiership in very ill-fitting suits. He improved immensely in a very short time.
I am sorry but I meant the President though Joseph’s attire is sometimes lacking in good taste.
@Charlie Bates
Only “sometimes”?
Funny you mentioned Baxxter – they are in fact the president’s tailors.Bortex do offer a service to modify suits – they have lengthened trouser legs and sleeves for my sons and for me. So there should be no excuse.
Nothing like a bespoke suit. Being skint, I haven’t yet had the privilege, but it’s the very first thing I’ll got for when I get my first proper salary.
Exactly, Daphne – I fall into that category of vertically challenged men.
So I have my suits tailor-made in Thailand and Cairo because tailoring seems to be less available in Malta now and workmanship is perfect.
It is impossible for me to buy suits off the rack.
I recently went to Bortex and they had two versions of mens’ suits – the long fit and the short, referring obviously to the sleeves and trouser length.
Kristu qal Hallu t-tfal jigu ghandi.
Oqbra m’bajda kollha kemm intom. Din mhix okkazzjoni ghal min jippopa sidru biex jidher. Li kieku jien kont flok il papa mat tfal u l-foqra niltaqa mhux ma dawn il qabda sangisugi, korrotti li mohhom biex jghixu fil lussu ma jipurtajomx mill proxxmu. Xi hadd qallu lill papa kemm ghawn familji li qedin ibatu minhabba tifsil politiku. Ghal min jinteresah jaqra ftit il-vers ta San Luqa 11:46. L-ewwel nigu biex nilabuha ta qaddisin fl-art kieku. Kristu ma jridx min dawn ix-xinxilli.
Tkunx cuc, Jerry. Gharaf id-differenza bejn il-Papa bhala kap tal-knisja, u l-Papa bhala kap ta’stat, i.e tal-istat tal-Vatikan.
Ic-ceremonji gewwa il-palazz kienu ‘statali’ e.g. bhal meta kien gie ir-Re ta’ Spanja (imma anke hemm kien hra ghal darba Joseph tal-Labour). Ma kien hemm ebda lok li Muscat u l-mara tieghu ideffsu lit-tfal taghhom f’ceremonja purament statali. Ghandhom id-dritt kollu jkunu ferhana biehom, izda mhumiex l-unici tfal fid-dinja, wara kollox.
Il-quddiesa fuq il-fosos, minn naha l’ohra, hija ceremonja religuza u hemmekk jsta japplika dak li qed tghid int, imma mbaghad hemm ir-realta’ w l-prattikka.
Jiena ma nafx x’gara waqt jew wara il-quddiesa tal-fosos dalghodu, pero inti certament midhla sew ta’ dawn l-affarijiet u forsi tghidilna kemm kien hemm tfal jiffullaw ghal-fuq il-Papa, u anke kemm thallew xi tfal li forsi ppruvaw jaghmlu dan.
Dan ghaliex kollox ghandhu postu, u anke fic-ceremonja fuq il-fosos il-prezenza u l-agir tat-tfal ikunu skond ‘il-protocol’.
Check this article about the pope’s visit:
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/faith/pope-ventures-out-of-rome-ndash-but-victims-of-church-abuse-lie-in-wait-1947233.html
Your Excellency, my daughters Etoile and Soleil.
….or rather Sun and moon – mamma mia.
I am sure that the Muscat’s intentions were sympathetic when taking their children to meet the pope. What they fail to understand, as you rightly point out in your article, is that it is not the place for such young children. For others to say this is not being unkind towards the children or the parents, as the ignorant and many of your opponents state.
On the contrary, they should take your statements, and those of others who say the same thing, very seriously and seize the opportunity to learn from them instead, so as not to make the same mistakes. If not for themselves, at least, they should do it for the benefit of their children.
The children are not to blame for the mistakes of their parents, and the parents should not expose them to such situations.
Unbelievable! I was watching it too and I was disgusted. Be sure this picture will come up during the election campaign to present Muscat a family man, as a good Christian etc etc…the Labour machine and elves will be at work 24/7.
Commenting on the meeting, Dr Muscat said that he really appreciated the way the Pope treated and appreciated the presence of his children.
Like, I mean, how else was the Pope expected to react? Hardly the man to tell Joseph and Michelle to eff off because of breach of protocol.
The Pope rose to the occasion, where the Muscats dismally failed. Ta’ Muscat urew tassew kif m’ ghandhom ebda ideja kif imorru l-affarijiet.
I totally agree with you. Joey and Michelle did make utter fools of themselves. The sad thing is that Gonzi also made a fool of himself by cracking a stupid joke that was completely uncalled for.
Agreed
Maybe he was trying to appeal to the masses. Sadly, the joke was totally out of place too.
BBC radio news at 8.30pm (local) reported that President Abela, in his welcoming address to HH, informed HH that there was a pending court case against three Maltese priests !
Typical BBC – which had the embargoed transcript of the President’s speech.
Kollox ghall-gallarija dik hi l-verita’ naf x’qed nghid! U issa din ix-xena se narawha ta’ spiss u bosta se jiggustaw din ix-xena…xena ghall-gallarija dik il-verita’ naf x’qed nghid!
Joseph Muscat and Guido Demarco must have given the protocol officer an epileptic fit.
They just do not get it, do they. They have no idea what good manners are all about and they obviously will end up being their twins’ nightmare in the future. Msieken it-tfal.
Hamallagni tal-prima sfera.
Il-Maltapastazar qalu li ghandhom esklussivita fuq x`kiteb il papa – dan ghax kien qieghed jikkopja il-live transmission minn fuq il-PBS?
x`faqar ta’ nies.
Did you not notice Joseph’s pose in the official photo with all the guests? With his hands behind his back, qiesu xi Ronaldo qabel xi loghba football.
From mlatsatr: Fr Colin told maltastar.com “how pity it is and how heart breaking it is these heroes who dedicated their lives for others would be linked with very few who abused”
“X’hasra u xi qsim il-qalb li dawn l-eroj li taw hajjithom ghall-proxxmu huma marbutin mal-ftit li jabbuzaw.”
That is probably what Fr Colin told mlatsatr.
I mean… you have to see to believe.
Do you remember Alfred Sant looking for a parking space while he was prime minister – to come across as humble? Is this another trick that Muscat has learned?
Oh Daphne, I am surprised you did not understand the importance of this family meeting. Doesn’t everyone know that an election is on the way and what best picture would you have if not with the family and the Pope?
Let’s just wait for the election campaign to see the pictures.
The ‘children at weddings’ comment is interesting. My fiancee and I are getting married in Malta later this year. I am Irish and my fiancee is Maltese-Australian. We told everyone we invited that children are welcome at our wedding. The idea of having a wedding only with late 20-somethings and 30-somethings and, as regards relatives of the previous generation, 50- and 60-somethings and no children is very strange to us.
I think that excessively formal wedding receptions where children are forbidden can sometimes be a sign of lack of social confidence on the part of the couple (or their parents).
Myself and my fiancee can think of nothing worse than having one of those Maltese weddings where people invite the great and the good and give invitations to people they hardly know just because those people are “notables”.
[Daphne – In Malta, lots of children running around are a feature of working-class weddings. I am not in a position to say what’s done and what’s not done elsewhere because this is where I live. I imagine it’s because social codes, manners and mores here in Malta have been heavily influenced and shaped by the British, and that’s the way it is. Far from being a sign of lack of social confidence, not inviting children is just the way things are done. The guests don’t expect their children to be invited (except for, in the old tradition, daughters over the age of 18 who are still living at home with their parents – young children are absolutely never invited) and the parents of the bride would never dream of inviting them because it’s just not done. A wedding reception is considered to be, like other parties, an adult environment, and any children who are there are there on sufferance: the children of the immediate family, the pages and flower-girls, and so on. They are expected to behave themselves and to make no demands for attention. As regards your other point about inviting the great and the good and people you hardly know because they are important, that too is a feature of working-class weddings and now, mittilkless ones.]
When I get a wedding invitation I feel relieved that my children are not invited, for the simple reason that even though they’re very well behaved it’s still not a place for them and I take the opportunity to relax and enjoy an adult conversation with friends. Although last year my kids were also invited to a friend’s wedding who had the good sense to employ the services of child animators.
I’ve been to some working-class weddings where children ran around shouting, poking at the food on the tables and also mucking up the wedding cake. It really is no pleasant sight believe me.
It’s about time somebody taught this man what protocol is. He is a ‘let down’.
Folks, put your brakes on for a moment: on various state (as opposed to private) visits to Rome, Dr. Fenech Adami’s entourage included ALWAYS his children and even in his last parting visit, his kids had spouses and their own kids in tow.
Likewise, when John Paul II visited Malta, EFA (and other members of cabinet) had also their spouses and children present at the Palace.
Just remove your blinkers for a second before rummaging at the bottom of the cesspit, please!
[Daphne – Madonna, x’injoranza! It was only a matter of time before somebody came up with this argument, which just goes to show that you really cannot teach the finer points of protocol to an adult who has not learned the fundamental ‘philosophy’ which underpins them, from birth, which then makes them only pointless rules in his eyes. I’m going to say this in a loud voice in the hope that it will get through: A FORMAL INVITATION TO A HEAD OF STATE AND HIS FAMILY TO AN AUDIENCE WITH THE POPE IS ONE THING. CARRYING YOUR CHILDREN UP THE PRESENTATION LINE TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE POPE IN A CONTEXT IN WHICH THEY ARE CLEARLY OUT OF PLACE, AND THEN FAILING TO MAKE THEM WALK PROPERLY AND STAND UP STRAIGHT AND GREET THE POPE, AND NOT PUTTING THEM DOWN SO AS TO BE ABLE TO GREET THE POPE PROPERLY YOURSELF IS…..BEYOND BELIEF.]
Besides the making them walk etc, the bottom line is this: the children were totally out of place in that line-up where the nation’s top dignitaries were being introduced to the pope, who is also a visiting HEAD OF STATE.
After the formal protocol introductions were over, in another room of the palace where the tone would have been a little less formal, then the children could have been given a BRIEF moment to meet the pope.
In that video clip, Joseph Muscat was seen to be struggling a little when taking the pope’s hand, what with juggling one of the twins in his arms. Totally undignified and out of place.
It is beyond me how the protocol officers from both sides allowed it in the first place.
…and I was surprised at George Abela’s poor English diction, especially “heppy berday”.
Well, 90% of the Maltese pronounce English like that, you cannot nit-pick when it comes to English pronunciation in Malta.
I cringe when I hear the Maltese speak English, whilst trying to impress, they do the opposite instead.
ah but pronouncing ‘th’ and ‘ae’ (the ‘a’ in ‘happy’ or ‘bag’) is becoming anathema as it’s considered pretentious.
….and I was surprised at the Archbishop’s well spoken English, in contrast with the appalling Bishop of Gozo’s spoken English with that ghastly Gozitan accent.
[SORRY – I MEANT THE BISHOP OF GOZO]
I posted a comment before my correction above, but I think that earlier comment got lost – in fact, I failed to see it awaiting moderation as soon as I submitted. Apologies for that, but my full comment should have been that I thought that the Bishop of Gozo gave a good, authoritative speech in the meeting with young people on Sunday afternoon.
The prime minister, ministers, previous presidents all turned up without kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren.
I presume that if the pope ever returns during a Labour administration all the ministers will bring their children.
Maybe there will be entertainment laid on for them.
So It-Torca, l-Orizzont and Kulhadd pontificate about child abuse and spin stories about Ratzinger’s protection of paedos – meanwhile their progressive leader breaks protocol takes his children to be blessed by him.
This is one of the best examples of the crass hypocrisy of the media. Meanwhile what about Lou Bondi’s request for money when giving the story to the BBC?
[Daphne – Did you read Malta Today’s story through? He didn’t ask for money, and has issued a press release. Never believe anything you read in Malta Today. There’s always an axe being ground there somewhere.]
Progressive my foot – more like an ultra orthodox reactionary Neanderthal with a brain locked in the 1960s and 1970s.
and Super One repeated the story incessantly. Zibel.
If this is what Labour wants, let them have him. Let’s make sure though that Malta never gets him as it’s leader.
May I ask? Was it proper for some ladies who were presented to the pope, to have their handbags hanging from their shoulders? I might be wrong, bit I think it jarred a bit.
[Daphne – It doesn’t have anything to do with proper or not proper, but elegant or not elegant. A small clutch or tiny actual handbag (held by the hand) would have been better. The shoulder-bags jarred because they looked clumsy.]
And what about pant suits worn by some ladies? Definitely another breach of etiquette.
[Daphne – There should have been no business-type suits at all worn by the women, quite frankly. At least I can say this in Mrs Muscat’s favour: she was properly attired in a black, below-the-knee dress. I will never understand why Maltese women insist on wearing office suits to formal occasions where a dress is required. It drives me up the wall. It’s not like they didn’t have enough time to get something made if they couldn’t find anything in the shops.]
I think a classic black sjut would have been more appropriate D. That frilly circle dancing skirt was inappropriate. Thank God it was black at least.
But then who am I to judge a woman’s taste in clothes? Although I have to repeat myself ”Mish, next time leave the kids with the sitter”.
A clutch bag should have been worn.
What crass ignorance. Who is advising him on protocol matters?
Maybe one of those functionaries on an annual pay of Euro 40,000.
There is stupidity and stupidity, but this is the epitome, he should stop using a pick and get himself an excavator.
X’faqar ta’ pajjiz … jaqqqq.
It seems that Joseph Muscat likes breaking rules. Very childish, spoiled and stupid.
I think it’s all to do with ignorance and lack of respect.
so must be spiro gonzales he took his grandchildren. you stupid lot.
no wonder they call you a witch, you evil illiterate so and so
This guy is beyond hope, even with a name as such.
It could have been worse, much worse. My heart missed a beat or two before the two kids turned and faced the cameras. No, they did leave their gazaza at home. Bless them. Who says the girls are protocol ignorant ?
I can see it big and bold – without any question marks of course:
“ATTAKK FAHXI IEHOR FUQ IT-TFAL TAL-LEADER!!!”
Most probably he could not do that. Sometimes ‘leaders’ think that they can cross a bit the line. Like when EFA took his whole extended family to see the Pope, in Rome.
Nothing wrong at the expense of protocol. Not much can be said at that of taxpayer.
[Daphne – The then prime minister did not ‘take’ his family, a choice of terminology that betrays the male-centric paterfamilias way of thinking. They chose to go. They did so because they received a formal invitation and accepted it. To put it bluntly, please stop talking out of the seat of your pants. There is no comparison between the two situations – at all.]
And just for the record, they paid their air fare and accommodation.
x’ ghira bazwija. min jaf kemm x taqtghu li kontu hemm ma uliedkom. it-tfal innocenti, halluhom ha juruhom la ferhanin bihom, min jaf forsi haddiehor ghalhekk ghandhom uliedhom barra minn malta ghax forsi mhux ta quddiem nies. prosit Mr & Mrs Muscat.
[Daphne – Kullhadd ferhan b’ uliedu, Orion, hlief dawk li ihalluhom go xi istitut. Imma mhux kulhadd vulgari bhal Joseph u Michelle Muscat, li jahsbu li huma biss ghandhom tfal, tipikament ta’ hafna minn dawk li jkollhom it-tfal pjutost tard fil-hajja u wara IVF u hafna diffikultajiet ghax ma jistghux jaghmluhom b’mod naturali u allura iridu bilfors igibuhom fid-dinja b’assistenza artificjali. Tifhem li f’sitwazzjoni bhal din Dr u Mrs Muscat jaraw it-tfal taghhom bhala miraklu, imma iridu jkollhom is-sens komun li jarfu l-fatt li ghal haddiehor huma tfal normali. Uliedi huma ferm sew ta’ quddiem in-nies ghaliex trabbew go familja assolutament tal-pepe, biex nuza l-lingwagg li forsi tifhem inti, u jistudjaw barra minn Malta ghax kapaci hafna u ghal ebda raguni ohra – mhux bhal, per ezempju, dawk il-qabda criecer ta’ Maltstar u Super One li lanqas biss kapaci jiktbu essay minghajr ma jikkupjawh minn fuq l-internet jew jaghmlu ezami minghajr ma jinqabu jaghmlu skoss cheating, u jehlu u jehlu sa kemm jispiccaw drop-outs kapaci ta’ xejn hlief jahdmu ma l-izjed media bazwi li hawn fil-pajjiz.]
Joseph-and-Michelle’s behaviour is the equivalent of wearing party hats to a funeral.
Daphne, usually I love your arguments but mentioning IVF etc. was a bit too much, I think. Besides, every baby is a miracle.
[Daphne – I wasn’t the one who mentioned it. They do. And I mention it precisely because it is the reason their attitude towards their children is abnormal – though it has come to be seen as normal in these days when couples routinely leave having children to their 30s and then often struggle to do it, with all the attendant problems that lead to a ‘miracle’ birth, as a result of which the child itself is seen as a miracle when it is just another child. To claim that a child is a miracle is to ignore science and biology. Children raised in that kind of environment are suffocated and grow up with a disproportionate sense of their own importance and abilities. The twins’ father is in fact a classic example of this: an only child born to older parents who treated his arrival like that of the Messiah. Look at the result. This is actually a subject which interests me in a general way, and which I have occasionally written about. It just so happens that the opposition leader and his wife fall into that same category of persons with ‘miracle children’. I find it so interesting because now that the phenomenon is so widespread, this means that in 20 to 30 years’ time we will see what it means to have a generation of adults who were raised as miracle children. So far, our society has had to deal only with ‘miracle children’ exceptions. The change has been very sudden. My contemporaries and I, in our vast majority, had children in our early 20s, a time in which it impossible not to fall pregnant unless you were born with some physical defect that prevents it, and so we regard our children as a fact of life and not as a miracle. Women who had children in their 30s are, I notice, completely different in their attitude. I notice it particularly because I was on the cusp of the generational change. We would be a bunch of mothers in our 20s with hordes of children running wild all over the beach, who if they cut themselves would give it a wipe and carry on rather than interrupting some exciting hunt by running back to mummy like a baby, and now I see that it’s all almost solitary – individual mothers in their 30s and 40s, sometimes in pairs, with over-fussed, over-dressed children who panic about everything, like their mothers. It’s all very different.]
Wow, I never expected that sort of reply and yes, yes, yes to more about this subject. I would love to keep on discussing “miracle” children. Maybe next time.
Good lecture to Orion, but will it sink in? I wonder.
bir rispett kollu lejk galazia u kulhadd!! x differenza ha tamlilkom ax ha it tfal quddiem il-papa??? uweja haluna naqa ahjar kulhadd jibda jara x jamel f hajtu forsi xi darba dal-pajjiz jimxi quddiem
joseph u martu amlu sew li hadu lil uliedom jaraw il-papa… billi amlu hek sa fjn naf jin ma offendew lil hadd b daqsek.. nahseb kiku kelllek ic cans int u kulhadd igifieri min andu tfal ma tipruvawx tbirkuwom mil-papa inifsu!!! uweja
“B’daqshekk x’fiha” huwa EZATTAMENT it-tip ta’ attitudni bazwija li wasslitna fid-dizastru li ninsabu fih illum.
Jekk trid inpoggihielek f’lingwagg car kristallin, jien jaqlghuli l-hara jekk ma nkunx perfett f’xoghli, u anke jekk inkun perfett, jitrattawni ta’ zibel. Joseph Muscat ghandu jkun ezenti mill-kritika? Daqs dan.
dan sempliciment ha lil uliedu quddim il-papa !!!! x amel hazin b daqsek???
u int hek ->“B’daqshekk x’fiha” huwa EZATTAMENT it-tip ta’ attitudni bazwija li wasslitna fid-dizastru li ninsabu fih illum.!!!!
ahseb u ara li qd tamlu intom tindahlu fuq affarijiet personali ta haddihor!!! dik x tejdila alura ??? dwejaq ta hajja???
haluna naqa araw x tamlu intom l-ewel
Iva, dwejjaq ta’ hajja. U ghira hadra. Nahseb li jixraqli hafna iktar gieh minn Joseph Muscat, imma x-xorti riedet mod iehor. Jien lest naghtih xaghri, li ghadu folt u b’sahhtu, jekk hu jaghtini l-job tieghu. Daqshekk nghir ghalih.
@ dont agree
Jahasra ma fhimt xejn. Joseph bhala leader ta’ partit jista facilment jitlob lin-Nunzio biex ikollu dik li tissejjah udjenza privata mal-papa gewwa l-Vatikan.
F’dak il-kas jista mhux biss jiehu t-tfal izda jista jiehu lin-nanniet qraba w hbieb ukoll jekk ikun irid. Nhar is-sibt il-Papa kien gewwa l-palazz bhala kap ta stat u f’dawk ic-cirkostanzi hemm modi u manjieri stretti, jissejhu protokol, li wiehed irid jimxi maghhom.
Joseph ghazel li jikser dawn il-manjieri u b’hekk waqa ghan-nejk u hareg ta’ mazetta. U jekk ma tafx il-protokol mhux l-ewwel darba li kissru.
Jien wisq nahseb li libes qalziet li ma jigiehx jew inkella veru pastas u arroganti l-boy.
NO COMMENT
Ha nejdlek int fejn taf jek Joseph avzax li ha jkollu tfal mijew??
U haga ohra qd tejd li kiser il protocol, tista tejdli fic cert li gvern qatt ma kiser il protocol?? Le ux
Ax nimagina li kiku saret min persuni tan Naha l ohra tal kamra intom kola ma kontux tiktbu awn u iktar u iktar ma kinetx tkun awn din l storja.. Tkunux ipokrita ta!!
[Daphne – Don’t agree and can’t spell either.]
Nikteb hek ax l hajja tal lum hafna jiktbu fil qasir u naf kif supost tikteb Ima nimagina li fimtni xorta
[Daphne – I think you’ll find that most people write that way because they can’t write otherwise. It took me a couple of seconds to write that.]
ISSMA HBIEB TAFU LI IS SUR GONZI HA LIN NEPUTI MIGHU ,JEW DAWK IT TIP TA NIES JISTAW JIEHDU TFAL MAHHOM?IMBILLI HADU IT TFAL? GHALIJJA MA GHAMLUX HSARA LILL HAD ,GHANZI GID GHAMLU,,,.TAF MIN JAGHMEL IL HSARA MIN JEJD U JIVVINTA STORJA GHAL XEJN BXEJN FOQ IL PROXMU ,.NIES BHALKHOM HSARA BISS TGHAMLU QEDIN ,BEKK MALTA TINSAB KIF TINSAB GHALIEX INTGHOM BHAL GVERN VERITA MA TEZISTIX.
……….. tallinaqs…. hawn minghadnu naqa sens fmohhu!
[Daphne – Please learn how to spell because you’re doing yourself no favours. If you choose to write in Maltese in a predominantly English-language blog, then my guess is that it’s your sole language. And if you can’t even write that, then you’re in deep trouble. So do something about it, for your sake because I couldn’t care less. I’m not your mother, but then if I were, you wouldn’t be writing that way.]
aremm haaa ……….l lecturer tal maltiii ………..bil mod hejj…. jidher kemm jispikka l maltii fik…. basta matija u aqqas kelma bil malti ma lissint!! ……… amilli pjecir hij u tindahhalix kif nikteb ax jekk jiena komda nikteb ekk u fil qasir mhux se tkun int li tghidli kif nikteb…. u jekk jien maltija…. andi kull dritt li nikteb bil lingwa materna tieghi fejn iriid u bil mod li llum l gurnata kulhadd jikteb… fil qasir u laqwa li jinftihem… immaa nahseb sewa atlek lewwel….. andek nahseb iktar min 60 sena lura!!
@ H.P. Baxxter
Ghandek biex tiftahar mela fuq ix-xoghol jippretendu li tkun perfett u jekk tkun xorta jittrattawk ta’ zibel. Li qed tghid inti xi haga li tigri f’hafna postijiet tax-xoghol specjalment kumpaniji Maltin jew fejn jmexxu il-Maltin.
Jien kontra l-ghazz, imma lanqas ma naqbel li jixorblek demmek fuq ix-xoghol, imma m’hemm x’taghmel jkollna noqghodu anzi nirringrazzjaw lil Alla li jkollna xoghol. Hekk sewwa fl-antik kienu jikkmandaw il-gvernijiet u illum in-negozjanti.
Nifhmek siehbi hafna wkoll, il-problema hi li il-kollegi tax-xoghol mhux kapaci jitkellmu ghax jibzghu minhabba id-dejn dak hu il-materjalismu u il-kapitalismu qisu droga tixtieq tieqaf imma ma tistax ghax tmut!
Jien kapitalist daqs l-ikbar negozjant. Imma ghandi iktar kapital f’mohhi milli ghandi f’buti. Dik kienet, ghadha u tibqa’ l-problema tieghi.
Trid tispjegali l-frazi “ghandek biex tiftahar mela”. Jien fejn qatt ftahart? U biex, skond int, qieghed niftahar?
Jien qed nesprimi biss sentiment ta’ eluf bhali, li jaraw certu politici meqjuma minn kullhadd, meta huma inkompetenti, injoranti, smug u conceited (ghax m’ghandniex kelma bil-Malti ghal dawn il-kwalitajiet), u meta l-istandards ghalihom donnhom huma hafna iktar baxxi milli huma ghall-bqija.
Jien ghandi dottorat, gibtu hafna qabel Joseph Muscat, u f’suggett serju minn università eccellenti, jigifieri dan it-tip ta’ bullshit ta’ “Doktor” X u “Doktor” Y ma jimpressjonanix. Jimpressjonani iktar kieku juza accent korrett (bil-Malti u bl-Ingliz), kieku jitghallem jaghmel Windsor knot sura, kieku jieqaf b’dik it-tbissima immatura tieghu, kieku jinduna li stunts bhall-hbieb gay Francizi huma ridikoli ghall-ahhar, u finalment, kieku jartikola imqar policy wahda.
maaaa……. kemm hawn min vera ma jsibx xi jghid jahasra! kolkom klim tqil blingliz biex mialijkom timpresjonaw u jispikkaa lgherf fikom imaa mbghad is saying basici nahseb qatt ma tghalimtuhom!! LIVE AND LET LIVE!!! gili smajtuu bihaa din? hadd mhu perfett fdin id dinja , tista tkun ta l`ghola stat fil pajjiz ghax xorta tibqa bniedem normali….. fejn igib il familja qabel kollox u kulhadd!! …….. flopinjoni tieghi ma rajt xejn pastaz u ta barra minn hawn bli ghamel Joseph Muscat , pjuttost ghin lill papa iktar billi ma hallihx jitbaxxa ghax hu ragel ta 83 sena!
[Daphne – Funny, but these comments that have suddenly arrived in support of Michelle, Joseph and it-twAnS bear a remarkable similarity to those that poured in in support of Keith Darmanin (tal-bottom u s-syringe). Is this some special kind of language/communication style used by a particular group of people not yet identified by sociologists?]
similari vera?? allinqas…. hawn min hu rasu fuq ghonqu u mohhu miftuh biz zejjed biex jirraguna bhali! ghalija dan lartiklu seta jkun fuq kwalinkwa persuna maltija ghax listess nahsiba! seta jkun gonzi infatti….. ghax jiena mhux ghax qed nifavurixxi lil Muscat ghidt ekk… izda ghax vera nahseb li hawn xeba nies bhalek li jhobbu jidefsu fejn ma jesahhomx…. jekk hsibt li ghamel xi haga hazina……… darbohra mur int floku ha tghalmu kif irid jghamilhom laffarijit peresli li itni tifem hafna kif ghandek tkun omm u kif igib ir rispett. Insejthom il kumenti vulgari li kont taddi daphne?
[Daphne – Hekk nahseb, li kieku kien dwar Gonzi kont tghid l-istess. Nahseb hsbitni twelidt il-bierah.]
int fejn taf li jiena mhux nazzjonalista sorry??
[Daphne – Naf ghax sahhara u naghmel il-megiks. Qisu xi hadd ghandu bzonn ta’ xi gherf partikolari biex jaghraf il-motivazzjoni ta’ nies bhalek. Hemm sintomi li bl-Ingliz jghidulhom ‘dead giveaways’.]
hemm ohrajn jejdulhom dont judge a book by its cover ta ;) u ma kellekx alfejn tghidli int li qisek sahhara ghax kont naf narahha wahdi dijk imma thankyou talli ghinti nghamilha aktar cara :D
[Daphne – If you had the intelligence to disguise yourself cunningly, then you wouldn’t be a great admirer of Joseph Muscat, so I guess it’s a catch 22 situation, isn’t it.]
ghal informazzjoni tieghek ma tantx tghamel diferenza lghal liema partit niffavurixxi ghax jien kull mghandi 17-il sena u l vot tieghi ma joddx igifirii ghal xejn et titmashan ax qed naqbes al muscat u familtu! BY THE WAY ….. jiena ghandi huti tewmin ukoll u ghadhom zghar u kiku ommi ma kinetx tihodom mahha bies jiltaqghu u jberikhom il papa jiena kont nehodhom. il mentalita ta tghek hija wahda skaduta biktar min 60 sena ghax flantik kienet t trend li >> children should be seen but not heard<<,,,,, HELOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO we are in 2010 now…… laffarijiet mghadhomx ekk! ghax nahssseb il papa ha pjecir jberikom mit ticrita li wera fuq wiccu! ma tantx kienu fuq listonku tieghu
[Daphne – Being 17 is no excuse for not being able to spell, write or think. And you’re quite wrong about children. Even though it’s 2010, there’s still a time and place for everything. If you’re fortunate, the passing years might teach you that, but if not, you’ll just have to join a chav organisation like the Labour Party where these things count for nothing, and claw your way up that.]
You should really be ashamed of yourself if you know how. You should have written similar comments on our poor previous first lady and Prim minister’sd wife. She was a really eye sore to your so beloved protocol.
[Daphne – You know, nutshell, it’s really strange seeing which of my posts provoke streams of semi-literate irate comments from people like you. So far, it’s Keith Darmanin and his bare bottom/syringe playfulness and now, Michelle and her rosary and Joseph and his twins. Amazing.]
wrong ehe?? ………… pjuttost nammira l kul min jghamel gest bhal dan ghax fejn jidhol ir religjon u xoghol jaf jigbor il familja f unita wahda u jaqsam mumenti sbieh bhal dawk ta talb u gabra u mhux ihallli t tfal man nanna jew ma nafx ma min!!! GET A LIFE DPAHNE!! ikber naqa min mohhok!!! u min kliemek stajt nihu u kolll li int mal PN , ghax bhalek memmx al fejn immur luniversia ta cambrige biex ninduna imma mhux bhalek, minix sahhara! u ghalekk tatek fghajnek din, u spiccajt amilt blog fuqa, ghax tghir al mijn jaf jinkludi il familja waqt xogholu u aktart u aktar favventimenti specjali bhal dawk!! ee u issa qed nigi fiha!! dana ma kienx fuq xoghol igirifiri nahseb kellu l liberta kolla biex igib lil ulidu jiltaqu ma xi hadd tassew importanti biex iberikom bhal papa!!
Being “semi literate” doesn’t make me a spiteful person like you. Your right though about provoking me, ( but it will be your first and last time). That’s your aim in your sad pathetic life. I bet you even managed to provoke your own poor husband. Bye-bye witch, you won’ t be hearing from me ever again. Just one last word – You a re making a lot of damage to your beloved party. KEEP IT UP DEPHNE ALMIGHTY!!!!!!!
Was the ALMIGHTY used to offend you?
Almighty means: having unlimited power, having very great power and influence etc…
Or as a compliment?
.
@dawk li ma jaqblux
Kieku fl-id l-ohra Muscat ma kellux il-private member’s bill, kieku ma kien jigri xejn – ovvjament hlief ghall-umiljazzjoni ghall-PL – li JM ma mexiex mal-protokol. Huwa meta tharsu lejn l-istampa kollha taraw kemm kien stonat.
@ H.P. Baxxter
Ghandek biex tiftahar, fis-sens kif spjegajt inti ma tantx jidhru li huma xi nies japrezzaw. F’dak is-sens, ridt nghid jien ghandi kapital minkejja m’ghandix hafna kwalifici ghandi sens komun u habbrieki. Imma nahseb illi ingenerali l-iktar li jimxu fil-hajja huma nies laghqin, gakbini, ipokriti u opportunisti, sfortunatament.
Naf min mexa ghax kapaci u haqqu pero jkollu jaghmel sforz ikbar min dawk li huma kif spjegajlek. Filwaqt li l-edukazzjoni hija tajba hafna imma mhux bilfors ghax tkun gradwat tkun kapaci iktar ghax hawn min tajjeb biex jaghmel ezami imma ma jkunx prattiku xejn.
Hi Daphne. I’m a regular follower of your blog and I find it as both entertaining and informative. I consider your posts and the facts stated therein as all truthful, as you frequently point out. Yesterday, however, the columnist Claire Bonello contradicted your post re the protocol procedures, or lack thereof, in your post “The Leader and his wife pull a party trick and take the children to the Palace”. Without mentioning your name or your specific blog, Dr. Bonello was quite clear as to whom and to what she was referring to. I wonder if your facts as claimed in this post of yours portray the truth or if Dr. Bonello’s version of events are closer to the truth this time.
[Daphne – Unfortunately, Claire Bonello is one of the psychotic crosses I have to bear, staring at me across rooms with those cold-fish eyes that are dead-ringers for Alfred Sant’s. Brrrrr. Creepy. She’s like her buddy Marie Benoit (nothing in common those two, except hatred for Daphne): every other piece she writes has to include a veiled negative reference to me. I didn’t know I was that interesting. It comes as a revelation – all these weirdos and losers in hot pursuit. I hope one of them hasn’t got a gun, because they’re like those wackos who take pot shots at the object of their obsession.
Claire’s neurosis has led her – an avowed ‘liberal’ and AD activist – to defend Norman Lowell’s racist girlfriend Arlette/Letty Baldacchino in her libel suit against me for calling her….Norman Lowell’s racist girlfriend. You should see them in court – heads together gossiping like best friends rather than client and lawyer: the Progressive Liberal AD Activist and the Racist Nutjob From Hell. L-aqwa li t-tnejn joboghdbu lil-Daphne. Il-vera msieken, jahasra. Ta’ min jikkumpatihom – losers A1.
There are several professional bunny-boilers in my life, and those are two of them. There’s a group of people, mainly women (including at least three at the newspaper where I work – Marie, Josanne and Herr Flick’s daughter Erika, who thought it was amusing to email me an advert for Viagra, which she certainly doesn’t need herself given that it’s been aeons since she had a man in her life) but also a couple of men, who are brought together by a common factor of thwarted ambition and resentment. It’s not my problem. It’s theirs. The way they behave, people would be forgiven for thinking that I’d taken something they believe is rightfully theirs. Such bores – all waiting for the revolution so that they can string me up. Yawn.
I am hardly going to read Claire Bondin from the arse-end of Sliema on the subject of protocol – she’s another Mona Farrugia. Must be tough, having to create yourself out of nothing. No wonder they think I had an easy ride.
Bondin’s problem now, I suspect, is that she is thoroughly disappointed in Joseph Muscat but can’t bring herself to admit it. Ho-hum: they can all bore on to their tiny hearts’ delight: Marie Benoit, Josanne Cassar, Claire Bondin, Erika Brincat, Mona Farrugia, Marisa Micallef and all the other miserable wretches. It hasn’t got them anywhere in the private sector, which is why they’re all gagging for the Joseph Revolution biex forsi isiru VIPs. Perhaps you could look at the common factor there, and it’s not journalism.]
I believe the children were invited and holding them on their arms was requested so The Pope won’t bent down ,due to his venerable age.
Saret wisq moda f’dan il-pajjiz li nies fil-politika jaghmlu propoganda bil-familja. Din m’hiex kwistjoni ta’ IVF jew ta’ miracle children. Hi kwistjoni ta’ ipokrezija u mmaturita’.
Qisu ghax ghandna t-tfal jew ghax m’ahniex separati xi vantagg politiku. Il-poplu mhux (ix-xemx u l-qamar irid) imma nies li kapaci jmexxu bis-sincerita’ u bil-veru mhabba ghal pajjizna.