Comments on: This is how civilised people do things. And yes, it matters.

By: Guzi

Guzi — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 20:48:08 +0000

Everybody knew what the political leanings of Brig. Vassallo were but nobody can say anything against him. Brig. Vassallo was humble also. Once, when he was Deputy Commander of the Arrmed Forces I had to enter his home for a service I was providing, and seeing his uniform hanging in his bedroom, and oblivious who he was and the significance of the insignia on his uniform, I asked him wheteher he is a soldier? (kind of a private of the lower ranks). His humble answer was “Yes, that’s where I have spent my life”. It was only afterwards that a friend of mine told me that that man was not a ‘soldier’ but the Deputy Commander of the AFM! Sorry, I wrote in length, but although our political leanings are totally opposite I have always admired Brig. Vassallo.

By: Joe Fenech

Joe Fenech — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:03:41 +0000

Oh yes it matters – and how. But the Maltese mindset is such that the concept of symbolism is not understood.

By: Stanley Clews

Stanley Clews — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:59:32 +0000

I agree with everything you say, Daphne, and with others, re Brigadier Vassallo with whom I had a close friendship.

I am very disappointed with Martin Xuereb, however. Another question arises regarding those overlooked by rapid promotions – will they resort to the former Brigadier Calleja’s Committee appointed by GOC Mallia?

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 16:00:35 +0000

In reply to H.P. Baxxter.

Unfairly advantaged? Hardly. You’re not pointing out the arcane niceties of using fish knives or wearing tweed to one’s club on a Friday evening, but bog-standard rules of behaviour in the civilised world. They should be common knowledge. To government officials, they should be their daily bread and butter.

Ours probably use a fish knife for that.

By: M.

M. — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:33:25 +0000

Meanwhie, here’s Franco Debono again, this time with Ronald Urry, who was recently charged with murder, albeit about a different type of crime this time.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20131001/local/court-case-over-unlawful-passession-of-cheque-pending-for-23-years.488552

By: minn mars

minn mars — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 14:02:25 +0000

So now we have a temporary Brigadier Mallia.

Looks like we’ve got Dad’s army.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:31:54 +0000

Carmel Vassallo never went to Sandhurst. He was commissioned during the Golden Years of Helsien mill-Barrani, and did his officer training in Italy. It goes to show it’s not the school, but the man.

Xuereb passed out from Sandhurst and yet he turns up for his formal resignation in shirt sleeves order.

With no one but our blogger to point out these things, I expect another twenty years of Labour government at the very least.

[Daphne – Your blogger, H. P., is unfairly advantaged in these matters by dint of historical circumstance rather than special individual effort, but yes, I do agree that it’s quite a serious problem.]

By: Conservative

Conservative — Tue, 01 Oct 2013 13:28:41 +0000

I had the pleasure and honour of working closely with Brigadier Carmel Vassallo for many years. He is definitely a Labour man, to the bone. He never uttered a word about his political leanings and was always extremely courteous, correct, punctual and precise.

His written English was a pleasure to read and his bearing was Prussian.

The Nationalist government did not habitually appoint those who voted for it to head important bodies of state. Often it was Labour-leaning competent individuals who were appointed. The key here is the word “competent”.

It is such a pity that “competence” that takes 26 years to build is wiped off the slate in less than 26 weeks.

And again, Brigadier Vassallo was a real, true, gentleman.