Can we stop being so very ta’ wara l-muntanji?
There’s a section of the press which consistently refers to one of the Nationalist Party’s selected EP election candidates as “the blind Gozitan lawyer”.
I despair. How is it relevant whether this man is blind or from Gozo?
If the mainstream press wishes to be consistent in this approach to describing the politicians it talks about, then the Police Minister should be, as one of my readers remarked, the short and grossly obese lawyer from Gzira.
All right, so most Maltese men and politicians of that age are short and obese, so perhaps the newspaper in question doesn’t consider that worthy of note, while on the other hand few politicians or people in general are blind.
But that’s hardly the point, is it. I distinctly remember, in the very dark ages when I was a child, some references to then cabinet minister Lino Spiteri (that gives you some idea of how long he’s been around) as ‘dak ta’ id wahda’. And even then, this way of talking was considered shockingly antediluvian.
David Blunkett was a British cabinet minister between 2001 and 2004. He was blind from birth. You would never read references to “blind Labour politician David Blunkett” or “cabinet minister David Blunkett, who is blind”. When his blindness was discussed at all, it was always in a context where blindess was the actual subject of relevance. His blindness was never used to define him or identify him.
“Dak l-ghami”; “dak ta’ id wahda” – come on, get a grip. It’s the 21st century. Nobody thinks of Lino Spiteri as the politician with one arm any more. And nobody should be thinking of Kevin Cutajar as “that blind one”. His blindness makes his successful life all the more amazing, but it does not define him.
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That’s exactly what struck me most about the report in the newspaper; not who the candidates for the EP elections will be, but the highlighting of the fact that one of the candidates is somehow ‘different’. Shameful indeed!
You are absolutely right. It is not on (in fact for me it is inhuman) to refer to a person and mention his / her disability. This section of the press has, at least so far, never referred to someone “without balls” and there are so many around. You probably notice I am angry, very angry, about this referral.
Precisely.
I would also add that whenever the media bring this up, it’s as if they’re indicating that Dr. Cutajar should be the one to earn the sympathy vote.
This should never be the case; and I’m sure Dr. Cutajar would agree on this point. He should be elected on his own steam, and not because he’s blind.
As you said Daphne, the fact that he has been successful despite his disability makes it a remarkable story, but it should not be the determining factor in his (potential) election.
So true
Speaking of hicks:
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/First-batch-of-PN-MEP-candidates-announced-20130729
Namely:’
‘Posted by: kukkanja — 30/07/2013 09:15:32
Mur ivvota lil dik l-Germaniza hej! No way! Morru l-l-Germanja u hemm taraw kif jagixxu l-Germanizi mall-barranin!L-ewwel huma, it-tieni huma u l-bqija ma jezistux! Din l-arroganza tara ukoll l-Kroazja:dixxendi u comrades in arms tal-Germanja fi zmien il-Gwerra.Hemmhekk tara ir-razzizmu fir-realta (barra) li tista tarah gol-fran fejn kienu jaharqu in-nies! ‘
I agree perfectly. I never read anywhere “The Parkinson’s Disease sufferer, Cardinal Tauran, announces the election of Pope Francis.” I found out about it through a biography.
Exactly my thoughts. Proprja mentalita’ ta’ wara il-muntanji. What was the writer thinking.
Punt interessanti.
Ironikament, jista’ jkun li hu jaqbillu li qed tintlaghab dil-karta, fis-sens, jirbah xi ftit ‘punti’, proprju b’rispett lejn dan l-izvantagg.
Naqbel ma’ dak li ghedt int. Biss osservazzjoni: ma nahsibx li tinghad f’sens negattiv.
Il-fatt li hu nieqes mid-dawl taghmel lil hajtu aktar straordinarja. U allura, xi ftit jew wisq – forsi sfortunatament, nahseb li tiddefinixxih xi ftit.
Nghiduha kif inhi – issa forsi se nkun ftit ingust – ghax lil persuna ma nafhiex. Pero li kieku persuna bhalu, bl-istess kwalifici tieghu, kien Malti, u mhux nieqes mid-dawl, ic-cans hu li mhux qieghed fuq dik il-lista.
Il-fatt li hu wasal fejn wasal MINKEJJA l-ostakli li ghandu f’hajti, ghalija juri li ghandu determinazzjoni ikbar mill-medja, u proprju ghalhekk nemmen li jista’ jkum politiku ta’ success. Mhux se jaqta’ qalbu, ghaliex dan, jaf x’igifieri ssib ostaklu, taffrontah u teghlbu.
Imma li kieku l-media ma qaltlix li hu ghandu din is-sitwazzjoni, u sempliciment qaltli dan huwa Kevin, avukat, jien ma kontx nista’ napprezza din il-kapacita’ li hija rilevanti ghar-rwol li qed ifittex.
What’s this? Another budding Franco?
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-07-30/news/tv-presenter-throws-toys-out-of-pram-for-not-making-pn-mep-list-2203680768/
Read the link and there’s a lot to suggest that here is another Franco (Debono). It’s ‘the people who support him’ (not he himself) that is upset at not being in the PN MEP list.
So unprofessional and unethical.
Norman Lowell’s birthday bash at Ray’s Lido. How unfortunate that we do not get a glimpse of the audience.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPIO1oTC-dQ
What an odd character, I love him though, harmless!
He’s anything but harmless. I lost a couple of school friends to his poison, attending his ‘martial arts’ classes two decades ago.
Horrible seeing them turn into losers.
The PN seems to have learned its lesson well. I do not know Mr. Micallef but it seems that he has loyalty issues after he discussed on Facebook his disappointment at not being chosen.
Malta’s PM, the short, squat gingerbread man with hair loss issues.
The prime minister’s stand-in, a pushy, ambitious woman with photoshopped hips and bingo wings.
The heavyweight cabinet of Malta’s government, most of whom are in conflict with government plans to reduce obesity.
The parliamentary secretary for culture, an unattractive man with a constant facial tic and a propensity for swearing.
Government’s man in transport, a myopic, intellectually-challenged individual.
The chairman of a culture board, a man with a fondness for tight pants.
Malta’s minister of tourism, a dotty, bespectacled, rather short individual.
The Minister of national security, an ugly man known for his roving eye, sleazy appearance, and miserly management of his household budget.
Kevin Cutajar, a practising lawyer.
I totally agree with you, Daphne. I’ve even remarked this on Facebook as it’s completely irrelevant.
I noticed this even on posts by PN MPs on Facebook. Why do they have to be that ‘specific’? Besides if I’m not mistaken, even though Kevin Cutajar wasn’t elected on the 13th district, he performed pretty well in the polls – an indication that the young lawyer is promising. I wish him well and to never give up.
Are these the same people who call others hatred mongers ?
Yes, and Alfred Sant, MEP candidate, doesn’t wear a wig.
Move over Franco.
http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2013-07-30/news/tv-presenter-throws-toys-out-of-pram-for-not-making-pn-mep-list-2203680768/
SHUT UP.
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Advisor-on-MEPA-reform-earns-more-than-chairman-20130729
‘Musumeci’s consultative role is described by the government as that of giving “technical opinions on matters concerning administrative procedures in the field of planning legislation in the interest of simplification and coherence,” a spokesperson for Michael Farrugia, the junior minister responsible for planning and simplification, told MaltaToday….’
I see Maltatoday can do British humour.
‘..Farrugia has described Musumeci – who pens MaltaToday on Sunday’s regular MEPAWatch column – as a reliable reference point. “Whenever I need an opinion or clarification of a law which is different from that offered by technocrats at MEPA I seek Musumeci’s advice. It is a way of bouncing ideas with both people in MEPA and people outside MEPA.”
Bravo Saviour, does that mean we should buy more of the thing?
Imagine where that leaves ‘technocrats’. It’s not as if Musumeci ever demonstrated any talent, just a penchant for minutae to overturn a decision. In garbled Maltalian.
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision”. Helen Keller
Kevin Cutajar sure has vision! Good luck and may all your dreams come true.
And if the media wish to be so stupid and short-sighted in their articles, they do not need to mention politicians or others by their names. For example, we all would know who they are talking about if they said the following:
The one who takes his children everywhere.
The one who sends his servants to collect water.
The one who needs his wife to order him around.
The one who lies about his income.
The one who forgot her last place of work.
The one who parks on every double line possible.
The one who thinks everyone knows who he is (or at least that is what his ego makes him wish to think)
The one who makes a u-turn after people petition against a transfer.
The one who cries in public.
The one who lies in public.
The one who thinks that being elected makes her high society.
The one who oohs and aahs when Michelle ma belle is by her side, introducing her to all and sundry.
And the list goes on and on.
Daphne’s point is crucial for the way we educate our children in schools (I gave up trying to hint at educations politicians…for a number of them, it’s just beyond them).
If one had to adopt a system of identifying some of our MPs, including cabinet members, by their visible attributes, I am afraid that we’ll end up facing libels in court for the rest of our life. For example, without mentioning names: Hon Minister Lapdancing Fanatic, Hon Minister Crying, Hon Minister Pulcinell…or, Hon Prime Minister Disasters & his Mrs Showoff
prosit Daphne 100% agreed
Well done for highlighting this matter. That reference lacked tactic and basic ethics.
FINALLY!! This reminds me of your blog post when Karl Gouder was elected to Parliament in the previous legislature, and your advice to him was so that he will not develop a reputation, and be solely known as THE gay MP.
Unfortunately however, whilst Karl promoting his sexuality for political gain would have probably backfired, Kevin Cutajar’s sight is something people will take pity on, so the PN will continue to use it when introducing him as a candidate.