@ Mark Vassallo @ Lomax

I think you are both right.

Social conditioning is a terribly important factor but not always an overriding one, as we note. Many times spinal conditions are deficient.

However, a perspective that would enable an individual to override social conditioning would require specific insight bevelled by personal absorption of literature, culture, education and experience, and that is an aspect that is lacking and has been compromised..

Not only is it lacking and compromised, but it is withheld when it could be given.

The Muscats should remember: Hadd m’hu ser jahsel wiccek biex inti tkun ahjar minnu.

Daphne gives it to them for free, and yet they despise her for it.

I cannot agree more. That skirt is horrendous. It is suited neither to the occasion, nor to Mrs Muscat’s height, age and shape. Our Mediterranean figures should not be made even bulkier by bulky skirts.

Ms. Muscat needs a real image consultant.

Flowing dresses which just skim the figure are more appropriate and would have given Ms. Muscat more height. We are all vertically challenged (most of us are, anyway) we might just as well dress for our body type.

I beg to differ. One is born to a family in a particular social class. However, that does not mean that a person cannot improve his education and status.

The problem with Mrs. Muscat is not her social origins, but where she thinks she is now and what that means to her. She doesn’t know how to fill the role or what that role means. Yes, that is partly because of her lack of training from birth, but it is also to do with an inability to observe how things are properly done.

Many people have come from nothing and it is hard to tell their manners and comportment apart from those who were born something.

Trying too hard looks as bad as barely trying at all. I have to admit that Mrs. Muscat is trying way too hard. Is it because she thinks that her real self is just not enough?

It is not even about money. Money does not bestow class or style or even manners. It may very well give luxury – but class and luxury are two totally different kettles of fish.

Money helps, but it is certainly not enough. There are so many hamalli nowadays who are rich but have the sophistication of bulls in china shops.

The problem, as I see it, is that Mrs Muscat was not properly brought up (the fact that her father is a butcher has got nothing to do with it) and like her husband she confuses money with talent, or money with style, or even money with ‘class’.

Nowadays there should be no excuses. We can learn – we are living in an information society. It is our fault alone if we remain rooted in our past, holding on to our belief that we do not need to be better because we’re already fine as we are.

Kemm hi redikola u kiesha. Lanqas hi kapaci taddata ruha ghall-okkazzjoni. Trid tidher u tidher hi biss.

Allow me to correct one misconception, her father was not a butcher but a teacher, and at least in his profession, a really excellent one. He is also a very decent and humble person. Michelle Muscat is actually a misfit in the family, most probably partly due to her close relationship with Carmen Pullicino, Alfred Sant and her militancy in labour, rather than her actual upbringing.

I think it’s time she bought a Merkel suit.