That, sir, is a brilliant analysis.

Yes the special lunch still happens, usually Saturday while the ‘marc ta’ filghodu’ is going on.

And if God forbid, it starts to rain, they do a ‘marc’ of their own to ‘celebrate’.

Once during the feast ceremony, Ignatius Farrugia came to church late, failed to do a reverie in front of the statue, and when the St. Catherine Band Club Secretary told him he was disrespectful, he (Natius) told him where to stuff it. An argument ensued, and they were all escorted out of the Church by the Police. Unfortunately he’s a vulgar idiot who does not represent us well at all.

[Daphne – I’m sorry to have to spell this out, but that’s exactly what he is: the people’s representative. The people of Zurrieq voted for him, and got him as mayor.]

So I am labelled Tal-Pepe and Miss Snooty – ghax mhux minn taghna, their words not mine.

“Few people have my stamina. Even I wonder, sometimes, where I get it from. Maybe it’s my passionate dislike of bullies, cowards, abusers of power and ridiculous people in general.”

Even though I don’t know you personally. I can’t agree more.

Exactly!
Their behaviour only confirms their ignorance of true democracy.

Thought that by now you know my name Daphne, in previous posts I used to write my whole name – Leonard Ellul Bonici.

[Daphne – I am not a clairvoyant, Len, and I moderate thousands of comments every week. If you want me to know your real name, try typing it in one of the required fields.]

Juza lin-nies biex jaghmel il-flus ghalih in-nifsu, imbasta jghid illi paga li jdahhal minn sindku jaghtija lill-foqra. Vera wiccu ma jisthix.

[Daphne – Freedom of speech ends where libel begins, Len. Lying about others is a crime. If I wrote here tomorrow that the prime minister was discovered in bed with Natius Farrugia, I would fully expect to be sued for it, and deservedly so. Also, to be protected at law under freedom of speech provisions, opinions must be based on facts and they must also be about public persons. Private persons are protected in all circumstances, even on the basis of fact.]

Your chain of reasoning, were journalist can criticise politicians and even mock them, but if it is the other way round it’s an assault on democracy does not hold. Yes agreed, it is the duty of all journalists to investigate politicians even on a personal level but then again you can’t reject anyone who says something against you, even on a personal level. If you really believe in freedom of free speech and somebody criticise you, so be it.

[Daphne – People have been saying appalling things about me since I started writing a newspaper column in 1990. I am impervious to it, and always was. If I were not, this job would have been impossible. Lies and slander are another matter. Yes, I have let many of those go, but there are limits. One of them is having the Law Commissioner at it too.]

Hiding under the veil of journalism and arbitrarily discounting Dick, Tom and Harry and posting weird photos on your blog because it is legitimate to do, is morally wrong.

[Daphne – You can hardly accuse me of hiding under anything, Len. I am extremely visible, everyone knows where to find what I write, and I use my own name and face. Also, how odd that you should consider my uploading of ‘weird photos’ to be unacceptable, rather than the weirdness itself and the weirdos involved. Truly, it takes all sorts. You see? I have allowed you to express your opinion here – and it’s criticism of ME – when you don’t even have the courage of your convictions and have failed to give me your real name/identity. That’s the difference between you and me, and it’s also the reason why we shall never understand each other.]