UPDATED: Mein Kampf

Published: June 15, 2012 at 8:21pm

So it turns out that the house named MEIN KAMPF belongs to – no surprises here – a certain Labour stalwart called Reno Agius, who is personal driver to shadow minister Charles Mangion, and who was also his official government driver when he was a minister in Alfred Sant’s cabinet.

Reno Agius was a police officer in the Special Mobile Unit (the infamous SMU).

He tells people that he named his house the German for ‘my struggle’ because it was such hard work to get built.

Indeed.




76 Comments Comment

  1. C Falzon says:

    I once met someone who named his boat Enola Gay because he thought it was the name of his favourite singer or actress or something.

    [Daphne – Song, actually: a top 20 hit in 1980, by OMD. I remember it well and can still sing it.]

    • C Falzon says:

      Yes now that you mention it it’s coming back to me – he hadn’t the faintest idea that the song was about the Hiroshima bombing and when I told him he thought I was pulling his leg.

    • JX says:

      Actually it’s the nickname of the B-29 that dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. I think it was the pilot’s mother’s name. Remember, the song went: “Enola Gay, you should have stayed home yesterday …”?

      • AJS says:

        Yup. Enola Gay Tibbets, I believe.

        The song is a classic.

        Daphne, nixtieq niddedika diska lis-semmiegha kollha tieghek – anki lil-Lejburisti. Kif kien jghid John Muscat: “The message is in the music” aka, nuclear fall-out trumps ‘hdura’ anytime, so be careful when you befriend the N Koreans.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5XJ2GiR6Bo

    • Herman says:

      The original Enola Gay made a bigger hit in 1945. It was the name of the Superfortress aircraft that “hit” Hiroshima by releasing the atomic bomb, which virtually ended World War II.

      • Angus Black says:

        @ FP

        Downstairs, where? I’m lost.

        Maybe you mean ‘below’?

        I hope my punctuation is correct.

      • FP says:

        Angus Black,

        I don’t care about your punctuation or anyone else’s, but I hope you can see a difference between lack of knowledge and incorrect knowledge when this is evident.

        Actively removing punctuation from correctly punctuated text shows incorrect knowledge of punctuation, and I hope that pointing this out would help the person rather than trigger life-preserving defensive reactions.

        We ARE a touchy people, are we not?

    • Tonio Mallia says:

      Actually Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, mother of the pilot, then-Colonel (later Brigadier General) Paul Tibbets.[2] On 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb as a weapon of war. The bomb, code-named “Little Boy”, was targeted at the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and caused extensive destruction.

      The song came after :-)

      [Daphne – Yes, I know (of course). But the person who commented here suggested that something was named Enola Gay after a singer, and I said no, it was actually a song, not a singer. I remember because it was a major, major, major hit at precisely the period that such things were important to me, aged 15.]

      • C Falzon says:

        Actually what I said is that the person I met thought he had named his boat after a singer or something, not realising what the name represented.

        I mentioned it because I saw a possible parallel with the way this house was named, that is applying a name which seems to him to represent something positive without realising its actual meaning.

        One hopes that this is what this Reno Agius rather than actually knowing what that name represents and then using it anyway.

      • FP says:

        Try to remove reference numbers when copying and pasting from wikipedia, otherwise your reference numbers point to nothing, unless you copy and paste the references as well. And it’s customary to credit the source when when copying and pasting word for word.

        Look at Joseph Attard’s contribution downstairs. He is most probably using the same source, but he is being more creative and less lazy. It has to be pointed out, though, that punctuation serves a useful purpose, and removing it when editing copied text is not recommended unless one knows what one is doing.

    • el bandido guapo says:

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH9jVp8i2Ts

      Not quite the original but possibly better.

      Amazingly emotionally charged song.

    • Joseph Attard says:

      The Enola Gay was actually a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber named after Enola Gay Tibbets the mother of the pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets, which on 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb code named Little Boy on the city of Hiroshima.

    • D.Azzopardi says:

      Plane, actually: it was the one that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

      Lest we forget.

      [Daphne – The reference would have been to the song, not the plane.]

    • Mike says:

      Enola Gay was also the name of the aircraft that dropped a bomb on Hiroshima or Nagasaki, can’t remember which

      • Joseph Attard says:

        It was Hiroshima. The second atomic bomb, named “Fat Man,” was dropped on Nagasaki, and the name of the plane was Bockscar.

  2. Anthony says:

    Whatever he says, I am sure he thought it was Urdu for ‘My Nest’.

  3. Anthony says:

    Judging by the metalwork, it’s probably a struggle to get in.

  4. Jozef says:

    Ahna ghandna xi haga hazina fid-DNA, tridx tmur.

    Tajba Charles, l-irmixk bl-gheruq u x-xniexel gbartuh.

  5. Herman says:

    Hitler, who was a sort of demi-god according to his followers, was able to read the future so he named his notorious book after Reno’s house.

  6. Andrea says:

    They should have named that house “Mein Krampf”.

    (Krampf=cramp/also means rubbish or bullshit in German)

  7. Galian says:

    He and Inspector Gadget used to seem joined at the hip when they were both in the police force during the ‘golden years’.

  8. Paul Bonnici says:

    I am speechless. What an idiot. I hope he never invites German or Jewish friends to his house.

  9. The chemist says:

    He must have influenced that idiotic DNA slip our friend Charles Mangion used to describe the Nationalists. Maybe he thinks Labour supporters are the master race.

  10. peppi ic cuc says:

    Enola Gay sa fejn naf jien kien l isem ta superfortess (ajruplan militari amerikan) li tefa l ewwel bomba nukleari fuq il gappun.

  11. joe s says:

    Enola Gay was the name of the bomber that dropped the atom bomb on Hiroshima. Named after the mother of the pilot

  12. Taks Fors says:

    Aside from the idiot who named his home Mein Kempf, Enoloa Gay was the mother’s name of the pilot who actually dropped the first atom bomb on Japan. Not sure what C Falzon intended by citing the person he once met who named his home Enola Gay, but let’s be clear here.

    Mein Kempf was Hitler’s excuse for his rise to power and huge destruction to mankind. Enola Gay was simply the nick-name of an aircraft, a bomber in this case, given to one particular pilot to ‘his’ aircraft that brought an end to WW2.

    So if one has to put Mein Kempf and Enola Gay in one bag, in a WW2 scenario, then yes, Mein Kempf was the beginning of WW2 and Enola Gay is what brought an end to WW2. Otherwise the Japanese would have continued to fight, kill and be killed at an already immense rate during the war in the Pacific, which continued well after the end of hostilities in the European theatre.

    The two are simply not comparable, if anything, they are precisely the opposite. One was for the bad, the other was for putting an end to a miserable world war.

    Enola Gay the song was a big hit but its lyrics were as stupid as the guy who called his home ‘Mein Kempf’. Without Enola Gay the bomber and the second raid by another bomber a few days later, the war in the Pacific would have continued ad infinitum and more lives would have been lost because the Japs just wouldnt have given in.

    • AJS says:

      Excuse me? They are comparable and the same crap wrapped in different colours to make it seem like the “forces of good eliminated the forces of evil’.

      Both were and remain atrocious crimes against humanity irrespective of the sorry excuse the Americans brought forward to justify their nuking Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

      Just because the allies won, it does not follow that their actions were justifiable. Nobody knew whether the war in the Pacific would have rambled on or whether the bomb would have stopped it – nuking was a wild stab in the dark.

      Only a retrospective analysis allows us to make that claim to foresight.

      And, if we take the justification stance, then even Hitler’s actions may be justifiable in terms of the Treaty of Versailles, the recurring persecution of Jews over centuries of European history and so on and so forth. Let’s call a spade a spade please.

      • DUST says:

        Memories are short, but one need only read about a couple of mostly forgotten events like Operation Meetinghouse (the fire-bombing of Tokyo) and Typhoon of Steel (the battle for Okinawa) to realise that, till the very end, the allies faced a fanatical enemy that was willing to die ‘with honour’ for a divine emperor.

        Horishima and Nagasaki are horrors that should never be forgotten, but prevented up to an estimated 15 million casualties in the impending invasion of the Japanese mainland.

        On a related note, comparing the Americans’ actions, whose help in the postwar economic reconstruction of Germany and Japan is unprecedented in scope, to Hitler’s treatment of the Jews is pretty ungenerous.

      • Harry Purdie says:

        Whoops, we have a weird one here. War is war, my friend. Shit happens. That’s war. The winners won.
        ‘A retrospective analysis’? Get over it. Jeez.

      • Jozef says:

        One might call it a sorry excuse, but in reality, the thinking was determined by democratic principle, perverse as it may seem.

        The US realised that after Iwo Jima, American casualties would increase exponentially, rendering the campaign liable to public opinion. The risk was the voter’s conscience getting, so to speak, in the way.

        If one considers a democratic state’s duty towards its citizens, saving the life of American soldiers was the only plausible prerogative. Callous, ruthless and right.

        Stalin didn’t have to and yet his method caused so many more deaths.

      • David Farrugia says:

        That is your opinion AJS. Had the Americans not nuked Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world would not have seen the chilling effects of nuclear weapons on civilization. Keep in mind these were fission bombs, ‘trikkitrakki’ compared to the fusion bombs developed a mere few years after the war. Google ‘Tsar bomb’ and you’ll understand. Just image such bombs being used in the Korean on Vietnam war. God knows what he’s doing.

  13. Dee says:

    http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120615/local/judge-defies-bomb-threat-to-hear-abuse-priests-appeal.424434

    Why does One News keep referring to these two pervs as ‘Father this’ and ‘Father that; , when they were defrocked quite a while ago on the orders of the Vatican itself?

    • Paul Bonnici says:

      I believe they are priests for ever, once a priest always a priest. It’s like marriage, it cannot be dissolved or annulled. Correct me if I am wrong.

      Though One News keep on using priest to mock the church.

    • Harry Purdie says:

      Dee, they ‘defrocked’ themselves in front of these kids before they were defroked.. They should be in the slammer. It’s an enlightening experience they deserve.

  14. Riff Raff says:

    Reminds me of constipation.

  15. The other hatter says:

    Twisted f@cks. The worst part is that maltapost delivers to that sick twisted person’s ferro battuto mailbox.

  16. A. Charles says:

    The name of this house will fall foul of laws in many countries. This is a legal disclaimer when one buys Nazi insignia:

    The image that shows (or resembles) a symbol that was used by the National Socialist (NSDAP/Nazi) government of Germany or an organization closely associated to it, or another party which has been banned by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.
    The use of insignia of organizations that have been banned in Germany (like the Nazi swastika or the arrow cross) are also illegal in Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, France, Brazil, Israel, Ukraine, Russia and other countries, depending on context. In Germany, the applicable law is paragraph 86a of the criminal code (StGB), in Poland – Art. 256 of the criminal code (Dz.U. 1997 nr 88 poz. 553.

    • John Schembri says:

      May I ask a genuine question: I have an English translation of Mein Kampf, published before the Second World War. Is it legal?

      [Daphne – Of course.]

  17. TROY says:

    For a minute there, I thought it was Herr Flick’s residence.

  18. Jozef says:

    Right, let’s recap the movement to date;

    Orphaned acolytes of the Gemahariya
    One facing assault charges
    One who commits perjury
    One to abuse state facilities for her private business
    One who lost his wallet to a whore
    A ragazza immagine who posts her wares on the net.
    A ragazza, not very immagine, but who parties anyway
    The offspring of a porn diva
    The offspring of a suspected murderer
    One who won’t allow his boyfriend to move on with his life
    Marxists on a spin
    NeoNazis with a home

    I think there’s more, MP’s for instance.
    It’s up to us.

  19. Fejn kien Charlon Gouder? says:

    On June 11th, there were over 91,000 views on this one.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsK_1yuFRsI

    Now its’s over 94,000.

    That’s 3,000 fresh views in less than a week.

    The Streisand Effect…

    • Sowerberry says:

      Is R.M. Douglas another David Irving ?

      • kev says:

        Wrong street, blind man. Read before you leap.

      • Sowerberry says:

        These ethnic Germans were transferred from countries which had already fallen under Stalin’s sphere of influence or were prime candidates to do so. Hitler had marched into the Sudetenland to “free” ethnic Germans from oppression.

        I do not think they had much of a future in Soviet countries after what had happened in WWII amd were actually saved by the Allies.

        By the way, where do you find these “alternative” (read revisionist who deny the Holocaust took place) historians for whom Auschwitz-Birkenau was a film back-lot straight from Hollywood?

      • kev says:

        This is not “revisionist” history, but what the victors failed to remind us of. Holocaust denial has absolutely nothing to do with this article.

        Two wrongs never make a right… But of course you want to play smart without reading it, which is why you come around as a twat.

    • Harry Purdie says:

      Hey Kevvy! There you go again, posting stuff to which you didn’t contribute. What’s your point? Everyone can contribute to any topic or issue. However, you just link stuff you brouse. The dishes and toilets are awaiting.

      • kev says:

        You’ve been asking this question for so long it seems you feel you deserve an answer.

        I can write volumes about anything that’s substantial, Purdie. But I’d rather not waste my time. I’m sure you know all about pearls and swine.

    • etil says:

      Kev, if you are so anti-EU why do you stay on in Brussels?

      • kev says:

        That idiotic question again. “Jekk int kontra l-EU ghala qieghed fi Brussell?”

        I work in the European Parliament for Eurosceptic MEPs representing Eurosceptic voters towards Eurosceptic goals.

        And just in case you’re unaware, the European Parliament is where elected representatives of EU citizens sit. The other two governing institutions are the Commission (representing themselves) and the European Council, supposedly representing member states’ governments, but if you’re a Gonzi you’re led by the nose by the Permanent High Representative.

        In case you haven’t heard, the EU is your new State, but then you wouldn’t know what a ‘State’ really is, would you.

  20. Silvio says:

    You won’t believe this.

    I once had an employee who had a baby (his wife of course) [Daphne – Why, Silvio, are all your employees men?] who being from Senglea named this child Rodney, know why? Because they had great devotion to the Redentur.

    • Silvio says:

      All right, even women, but none ot those in between.

      [Daphne – I don’t think anyone “in between” would want to work for you, Silvio.]

      • Harry Purdie says:

        Silvio, how did you ever have a business that required employees? Your comments on Daphnes’s blog indicate that they must have been a chain gang.

      • Silvio says:

        You just couldn’t resist falling for the bait.

        I was just trying to provoke you.

        No harm intended. I can assure you that I am not as bad as you think.

      • George Mifsud says:

        @ Silvio

        Cool down a couple of notches, I guarantee it’ll be ‘wertit’. I do not think you will last long as an employer with your kind of attitude. Please remember that ALL employers NEED employees. Also please remember that sexual orientation is nobody’s business except the individual concerned.

  21. Qeghdin Sew says:

    Daphne, is it even possible that you have nothing to say about this charade? http://blog.pmforaday.com/2012/06/16/tibda-l-ghazla-finali-ghall-attivita-biex-jintaghzel-min-se-jakkumpanja-lill-prim-ministru-ghal-gurnata/

    The proposals tajbin daqs tal-Guy ħi

    [Daphne – Why is it a charade? It’s a good idea, and more than 2,000 people applied. There will be fewer takers, I imagine, for ‘Be Franco Debono for a day’.]

    • Julian says:

      It’s a very bad idea. It makes a mockery of the concept of party and government being separate entities. Besides, the ‘top’ entries are so lame. Take the winning proposal, for example:

      “Marija Hammett, ta’ 37 sena, bagħtet l-idea li kull koppja għandha tintalab tattendi kors ta’ parenting skills qabel ma jkollha tarbija. Dan għandu jsir kemm jekk il-persuni jkunu se jsiru ġenituri naturali, adottivi jew ta’ fostering. B’hekk, dawn ikunu nfurmati aħjar kif jieħdu ħsieb lil uliedhom u jikkontrollawhom meta jkun hemm il-bżonn. Dan għaliex it-tfal tal-lum huma l-futur tal-pajjiż.”

      Reads like something coming out of Mein Kampf, to broadly keep with the topic.

      [Daphne – That isn’t a lame idea at all. I believe it’s essential. I have always thought it’s crazy that people find themselves in charge of a baby with no idea how to take care of it, or how to raise the child. That’s the root cause of most of our troubles.]

      • cesca says:

        But such training already exists. Aren’t Parentcraft lectures at Mater Dei obligatory for parents-to-be?

      • Qeghdin Sew says:

        “[Daphne – That isn’t a lame idea at all. I believe it’s essential. I have always thought it’s crazy that people find themselves in charge of a baby with no idea how to take care of it, or how to raise the child. That’s the root cause of most of our troubles.]”

        It isn’t a lame idea only in as much as it meets the PM’s chief priority of job creation this and job creation that. If that was the best of the lot, it really says a lot about the other contestants and the nation, because mediocrity prevailed again.

      • John Schembri says:

        There should be a clear separation between a political party and the government which it is running , but where should the line be drawn when the prime minister and the party leader are the same person.

        The concept is good: “What ideas would you push if you had the chance to be prime minister for a day?”

        Mrs Hammett’s idea should be discussed. We have to follow courses and pass tests to drive cars and boats, so why shouldn’t couples who become parents follow some sort of basic course in parenting before starting to receive children’s allowance?

        A child is far more precious than a car or boat.Attending for the course would be enough.

        Bringing up children like we’ve been brought up, or with trial and error is not always right.

      • Kenneth Cassar says:

        I actually am very much in favour of such an idea. Motherhood is natural. Parenting is learned and requires skills, which I find are very lacking in Malta.

    • Qeghdin Sew says:

      “It’s a good idea, and more than 2,000 people applied. There will be fewer takers, I imagine, for ‘Be Franco Debono for a day’.”

      Quite a few thousands voted for JPO and FD too, but relative popularity is never a good judge of quality, is it?

  22. Herman says:

    A house in Qrendi, close to il-Maqluba, is called “Horror”.

  23. Kenneth Cassar says:

    Poor thing. He tells people that he named his house the German for ‘my struggle’ because it was such hard work to get built, does he. Well, there are two points to make about this:

    1. If he never heard about Hitler’s infamous “Mein Kampf”, well, that says a lot about his intellect. And in any case, a decent man who makes such a “stupid mistake” and gets to know it, would change the name at the first opportunity.

    2. If he knows about it and chose to keep the name, this at the very least shows that he is not remotely discomforted by the ideas in Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” (I believe the bigot is actually proud of it).

    Someone should perhaps ask him for his views on immigration. I’m sure they would be “progressive” and “liberal”.

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