Somebody else found the words I was looking for
I’ve been looking for the right words to describe the strange situation in Malta, with its head-on conflict between British and Sicilian culture and thinking, which permeate practically every aspect of life and being here.
Some of the comments being bandied about the internet reveal a very disturbing thought pattern that sees vengeance as justified, desirable, warranted and acceptable, no matter the consequences, and think nothing of the fact that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando did not try to at least conceal his grudges and motivation, but actually BOASTED about them and thought them good justification for his abuse of power in using his vote for personal reasons.
These people, who like Jeffrey Pulicino Orlando belong to the ‘Sicilian’ part of Malta, do not even seem to know that when a member of parliament uses his vote for personal reasons, which may or may not include a mixture of gain and revenge, that is a blatant abuse of power. It is a form of corruption. Corruption does not necessarily have to include money.
Then I read Charlo Bonnici’s comments to The Times today, in which he summed up the situation as being “the portrayal of vengeance as some kind of virtue”.
And I thought: that’s it. That’s exactly what’s happening.
Jeffrey thinks he’s as ‘British’ as they come, but it begins and ends with the whisky.
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Directed in 1962, Lattuada explored how traces of this mentality can make a man who had managed to flee, to nearly lose everything he loves to a deal on a piece of land.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SK_CyQazRk
“the portrayal of vengeance as some kind of virtue”
Yep, that is exactly it. Although I think it’s more worrying that a lot of what the supporters of the PL want vengeance for doesn’t actually exist.
They talk about seeking revenge against a dictator because everyone in Malta is starving and homeless.
I distinctly remember someone going on and on about how so many Maltese people have to flee the country because they are afraid to speak their mind and are suffering.
But none of this is actually true. What happens when they finally find this out?
I am so appalled at what has happened that I am beside myself.
That a member of parliament keeps going on about how parliament is the highest institution of the country and then uses it as a common playschool yard to hit back at the brighter boy, just beggars belief.
That Jeffrey is a hypocrite we all know. He had portrayed himself as the “Green MP”, working overtime on that image, but we soon found out that that is all that was – an image – when the truth on the Mistra project came to light.
That he got elected so handsomely at the last election is not thanks to his brilliance or popularity but because the Nationalist Party, and specifically Gonzi and RCC, gave him the benefit of the doubt and rallied around him. It is delusional of him to think otherwise.
But that he could be so vindictive is another thing altogether. He has taken politics to a new low.
He has managed to overshadow even ‘le coque Franc’ and that is no mean feat. What a despicable excuse of a man. That he has abused of his position in parliament is simply unacceptable.
It is clear that there are certain aspects of our democracy that simply do not work. A parliamentarian who so obviously abused of his position should be held accountable – and not just at the next election – for if that person does not stand there is no accountability to be had.
I have one question on this score: if he committed perjury, why has no criminal action been taken against him?
I am sure Gonzi is regretting having stood by JPO. One may argue that he only did so because we were so close to an election.
However, it is not the first time that Gonzi has behaved in this way – standing by his team-mate. The one lesson for him to be had here is that sometimes there are some people who do not deserve your absolute loyalty.
Protecting the likes of JPO and Mugliett was a mistake. They should have been hung out to dry a long time ago rather than have them hang around these past four years, sulking. It would have also given a clear message to the electorate – that corruption of any kind is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
As for the Labour Party – they have been a destructive Opposition. They fail to appreciate that in attempting to trip up the Government every step of the way, they are being clearly disrespectful to the electorate that voted in this Government for a five-year term.
In an ideal world the party in Opposition should seek to be constructive in its criticism, support the Government for the common good of the country and act as part of the checks and balances required in a democracy.
However, this is evidently too much to ask for here where the Opposition notoriously votes against every motion presented by the Government with private member’s bills being the notable exceptions – coincidence? I think not.
For the good of our country I could wish for nothing more than for a Labour Party that was a viable alternative by getting rid of the scum that was part of the ’80s and pulling its act together.
Its antics show that that is still the same destructive force of old.
Only those steeped in prejudice or too young to know better will not be able to see this. Seeing Labour run this country with the persons involved today is just too frightening a prospect.
However, what has also been made abundantly clear during this legislature is that the Nationalist Party also needs to do a serious clean up job and get rid of the scum that has infiltrated it.