I imagine that Jeffrey is knocking back the scotch and raving about Turks over lunch
Jeffrey demonstrates his European cultural roots.
Expect some scotch-sodden updates on his Fejsbuk wall this afternoon.
In The Sunday Times this morning:
The Sunday Times: There are European politicians concerned about Turkey’s accession. A Maltese government MP has just argued against your country’s membership because Turkey “is not culturally European”. How do you react to such a statement?
Egemen Bagis, Turkey’s EU negotiator: It is childish and foolish. I am trying to join the EU not a union of Christians.
If this gentleman thinks Malta is a member of a Christian club he is wrong. There are tens of millions of Muslims living in EU member states, including Malta, like there are Jews, Buddhists and atheists. I attended Friday prayers at the Mosque and there were many Muslim citizens of Malta.
When he claims that Turkey is not culturally European he should check his text books. Maybe he was skiving from the classroom the day they were teaching the word Europe was the name of a princess who lived in today’s Turkey.
But if he is so concerned about Christian values, he should not forget that Christianity was born in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which are in the Middle East not Europe.
The EU is not an economic union and neither a political union but the grandest peace project in the history of mankind. Yet, it is still a continental peace project and the day Turkey joins it will become a global peace project because Turkey’s influence can be felt in the Middle East, central Asia, throughout the Caucuses and even China and India are closely following our EU accession bid.
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Does not JPO know that a number of East European countries currently EU members were part and parcel of the then Ottoman Empire less then 150 years ago?
He created this latest media circus simply to embaress and spite Dr Gonzi .
By tomorrow he will be back to making headline news with press statements on such top national priorities like marriages between gays, or strutting around like a peacock in some presentation by the Malta Councilof Science and Technology.
And is he not co-founder of some Valley-saving NGO? He was conspicuous by his absence at Astrid’s bash at St Julian’s yesterday.
Of course he was absent, that valley already has its nightclub.
This borders on the ridiculous:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120415/local/-We-fight-over-food-.415468
This is the sort of sob story (give and take a word here and there) that makes it to every radio phone-in and most of the political (and not political) discussions on the Labour media every day and night including the early hours of the morning.
Every word is taken as the Gospel truth while the host commiserates with the ‘poor’ for spending their social benefits on alcohol, drugs, cigarettes or lottery tickets ghax, taf int, imsieken bid-dwejjaq u disperazzjoni li ghandhom ma ittijhomx tort hux.
This story in The Times is as dishonest as those about Gozitan tourism enterprises who complain about lack of businesses , whilst ignoring the facts, ie that a holiday in Gozo is more expensive then some tours abroad and that Gozitans tend to fleece their guests for all that they are worth instead of papmpering the goose that lays the golden eggs.
A close third in thr rankings of dishonest stories is that about small shopkeepers who claim that they are going bankrupt because business is bad, and putting the blame on Gonzi’s fault for reducing the purchasing power of consumers with ‘wicked’ decisions taken by the ‘circle of evil’ holding him hostage,. .
Poppycock!
People still buy luxury goods and services. Those who complain have not bothered to improve their business in order to be in a better position to compete successfully with their rivals or are totally unaware of today’s tendency to buy over the internet.
I imagine that a future Mintoffian-inspired Labour government will solve all problems by re-introducing bulk-buying and quotas on computers, baby food and nappies, chocolates, corn oil, skimmed milk, branded goods, Italian pasta, French perfumes, Jaffa oranges and similar luxury and exotic items.
HALLUNA BI KWIETNA TRIDUX U TKOMPLUX MIN GHALIKHOM TBELLGTHU IR-ROSS BIL-LABRA LIN-NIES. MIN GHEX U RABBA’ FAMILJA FL-ERA MINTOFFJANA HAWN MALTA JAF VERAMENT X’INHUMA IN-NUQQASIJIET. MHUX XI ERBA SKUZI-GURNALISTI TAL-HABBA GOZZ LI TWIELDU WARA L-87.
Well said, Dickens
This story does not border on the ridiculous. It is simply disgusting. Can we know what the agenda of The Times is?
I do believe that those who are poor are the last ones to talk to journalists.
It is common knowledge that all those who have the ‘famous’ karta roza are entitled to a few packets of biscuits and pasta every month. That does not mean that they are poor, not by a long shot. And why would a grandparent buy and cook for her grandchidlren? Where are the parents?
There are a few people who really need help but there are also those who go and sob and tell stories, which are half-truths, to parish priests and Social Services people. They are not embarassed as long as they get things for free.
And if anyone thinks that these people will disappear once Joseph Muscat becomes prime minister, they are going to be proved wrong.
Just to correct a misconception – the “karta roza” does not entitle anyone for biscuits and pasta – it is only used to obtain prescribed medicinals from the government formulary.
What you might be referring to are those that have coeliac disease that are entitled under the schedule V (“karta safra”) to get a monthly quota of free gluten free flour, pasta, bread and biscuits.
This is in fact the treament of this condition and these items are more expensive than the normal onme e.g. a loaf of gluten free bread costs between 2.5 and 3 Euros.
We all know now what The Times agenda is – to please a possibly future Labour government. Their reporters seem to be inexperienced and they never follow up articles that they write.
Having said that I also wish to point out that with due respect to Dr. Gonzi, he should change tactics of promising to give people all they want, for free.
Some people are taking advantage of this situation and are expecting many things to be given for free.
Also giving the impression that anyone is entitled to anything for free is to say the least a bit dishonest. Nothing in life comes for free unless it is that strata of society that do expect or feel entitled to freebies.
We have to work to be in a position to purchase things, have holidays abroad, purchase own homes, have three cars in one family, etc.
We have to realise that nothing but nothing in life comes for free but unfortunately that seems to be the ‘paternal’ mentality of our governments.
“We (the government and may I add in some ways, also the Church) know what is best for you and we will help you obtain it all for free.” Finally I think that it is better not to give than give and then have to take away.
It is very sad when we come across persons who go so far as begrudging those few fellow Maltese for being entitled to a “few packets of biscuits and pasta”. Is it possible that we still have amongst us persons who have lost all their Christian teachings and whose hearts have become so hard?
I am glad that these are in the minority as can be witnessed by the generosity when we are asked to contribute for a good cause.
You ask “where are the parents”.
They are at work because they cannot make ends meet. Don’t you think they (mothers) would not prefer staying home with their children and seeing them grow, instead
of having to go out to work?
Who said that these people “will disappear once Joseph Muscat becomes prime minister”? Of course they won’t. They haven’t disappeared in the U.S.A, in England, France and every other country on earth.
The poor will be always amongst us and it is our duty to help them and not begrudge them the few packets of biscuits.
Shame on you.
They weren’t fighting over food. They were fighting because when they ran inside to get out of the rain some of them took the opportunity to worm their way to the front of the queue. It’s not as if the supplies would have run out.
“like”
I was particularly struck by the bit about putting the microwave in storage because it costs too much to operate. It is almost as ridiculous as Lil-Din’s complaining about the price of cabbage (or was it cauliflower).
A microwave running at full power for a whole hour will consume all of 40 cents worth of electricity, and that is if the household has already consumed enough electricity to go into the higher consumption bands.
Microwave is actually the cheapest way to cook, even if somewhat limited as to what can be cooked in it. (Unless of course one cooks only frozen prepared microwave meals.
@ Baxxter.
In that case you would feel less poor than them but that does not make you rich.
So this is 2012 and some people are poor. Big deal.
There will always be the rich and the poor, and everyone in between. Nothing to write home about. In fact I wish there were more poor people, because 1) I would feel richer and 2) it would lend some credibility to the “kuxjenza socjali” stories.
Dear Baxxter, it a matter of just being rich or not. Just to “Feel rich” won’t make you rich, perhaps it might just qualify you as a citizen of Cuckoo Land.
Balls. Prosperity is relative. With more poor people around, I wouldn’t just feel richer, I would BE richer.
JPO may be a virgin in RHPS parlance but he’d fit like a glove.
Remember Sharon Ellul Bonici’s advert telling us we should vote against EU membership because “66 million of Turks (sic) would love a summer residence in Malta”?
She hadn’t notice Turkey’s not landlocked:
http://www.turkuaz-guide.net/
What is a 50-year-old doing fooling about on Facebook?
X’inhu helu, qisu Tork.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrVwtVcYi9U
Whilst supporting JPO’s right to express an opinion, he misses the point somewhat. Turkey’s geopolitcal realities (what Jeffrey refers to as “cultural” leanings) have not hindered it from becoming a Nato stalwart.
Nonetheless, we ought to thank him for raising the matter. We have much to gain from Turkey’s invaluable contribution to the wider North African economy, Nato and the PfP.
One hopes too, that Jeff has learnt from that shameful episode in Feb 2009:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090225/local/a-simmering-problem.246353
“it is still a continental peace project “, oh dear, people really believe this?
Erm, in the long run, yes.
On another subject, the protestors at St. Julians held up a poster “No sun, no light, no air.”
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120415/local/-We-re-living-in-a-concrete-jungle-and-can-t-breathe-.415456
Across the road from where they were protesting, there is a seaside promenade stretching kilometres long.
A few metres behind them, there is the start of a footpath along the valley. Virtually a stone throw away from their front door, these people can go for a walk in open countryside.
I wonder what these people would say or do if they lived in any European city where people would have to travel miles before they enjoy a large open space or the countryside and travel even further if they want to enjoy the seaside.
To top it all, AD describe “applications to build blocks of flats in Spinola Square” as shocking, repulsive, shameful and an act of vandalism towards St Julians and its residents. It is about time AD learn to put things in their proper perspective.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120416/letters/Outrightly-shocking-acts.415646
I feel too much importance is being given to JPO. Leave him alone – the least publicity, the better.
JPO you remain a liability to the government and the party.
Resign.
Jeffrey, now that Joseph Muscat has announced that he shares the Prime Minister’s views on Turkey, will you go ahead with your private member’s motion any time soon?
Incidentally, Israel is not in Europe geographically, so as it stands now can’t be invited to join the EU community, even though it takes part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
I guess since they play in European football leagues too, you thought they are in Europe.
maltastar, about as exasperating as maltastar.
http://www.maltastar.com/dart/20120416-gonzi-secretary-of-company-under-investigation
I think Jeffrey is bordering on the ridiculous. He is taking unilateral action without due consultation within the party’s fora.
It is true that most of Turkey’s population is Muslim, but Turkey itself is secular.
The EU preserves the national identity of its member states in a number of ways, and I prefer to see Turkey’s membership as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Turkey has a huge market of around 80 million citizens. This will be a great opportunity for both Turkey and the other EU countries keeping in mind that business is continuously seeking new markets.
Furthermore Turkey’s thirst for EU accession will oblige it to improve its human rights performance and strengthen its democracy, and that can only be a good thing.
JPO is inconsistent. He goes on about the rights of the separated/divorced and of gay couples, but then is frightened of Muslims and discriminates against them. I think that his arguments are very much based on passion rather than logical reasoning as usual.
Daphne, by any chance, do you (or anyone) know what happened to Nicky Azzopardi and his excellent blog?
[Daphne – Nothing happened to him. He just stopped the blog.]
@ silvio
Shame on those who are not sincere and on those who use the poor for their own ends.
Seems that you too have noticed the mileage given on all the Labour media to that piece of The Times pseudo- journalism
Blessed are The Times, for their tall tales about the poor will gain the earthly kingdom for Joseph.