How ridiculous – so these are the big issues of the day
I’m damned if I’m going to address any one of them as ‘honourable’, in writing or any other way, once they have left parliament. I don’t even do it when they’re still members of parliament.
This fixation on titli (the Maltese word for anything that precedes one’s given name, whether it actually is a title or not) is sad and weird.
When the University of Malta recently tried to bring the Maltese system in line with the European standard – under which the Maltese law degree is most definitely not a doctorate or anything which entitles its holders to use the appellation ‘Dr’ – there was a mutiny.
It turns out that many people had joined the law course mainly with the goal of calling themselves ‘Dr’ at the end of it, without the pain and suffering, the commitment or the hard work (and in some cases, the intellectual capacity) of working for a medical degree or researching and writing a doctoral thesis over three or four solid years.
It’s the same with dentists, incidentally – they shouldn’t call themselves or be called ‘doctor’.
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20141001/local/former-mps-will-not-retain-honourable-title-parliament-seeks-tv-channel.538057
Edward Scicluna took offence when I questioned his use of the “Professor” title. I suppose he’s another one of those “Profs Emeritus”.
He is also an “MEP Emeritus.”
It’s not the former MEP status that really warms his smug little ego. It’s the “PROFSSS”. Edward Scicluna is an academic at heart. In the Maltese sense, you understand. Just like Alfred Sant – sorry, I meant DOKTORR Alfred “1599” Sant.
The continuum between Maltese academia, politics and power is a field of research as yet unexplored. Mark Anthony Falzon might wish to examine it, but then, er, he’s one of ’em himself.
So that makes Edward Skunkluna a Proffss. of Mintoffianomics Emeritus.
Another example of TVM big issue news was an interview with the former MP Franco Debono where he stated that “all his constitutional reform ideas” have been stolen from him and that it would be madness on the part of the powers that be not to appoint him as the head of the constitutional committee.
Some mothers do hav’em.
Mela hekk!
Who needs a character reference. Pompous and shallow come immediately to mind. To think that in this day in age so many are still fixated with titles and honorifics. Liberal Malta my foot.
Welcome back, Daphne, your contribution was sorely missed.
I was at the theatre in Valletta and a call went out: ‘is there a doctor in the house?’. Several people were hurt in the ensuing stampede.
welcome back. sorely missed
Thank God you are back! I was getting worried that you switched to Labour as well :)
I so agree with you. 100%.
Same applies to certain therapists – who may be qualified in their particular field, but not as medical doctors.
Welcome back. we all missed your blog these last weeks. we’re becoming like the Italians where everyone is dottore,onorevole cavaliere etc
Reading Sir Temi Zammit’s biography, the same happened in 1919 when the university had tried at the time drop the Dr title for lawyers. Back then students had gone around lecture rooms smashing the furniture.
Even doctors in the UK do not get a doctorate degree but an MB ChB, which is a bachelorate in medicine and surgery. They are simply called doctor because they are doctors and not because they have a PhD.
You mean like ‘Dr’ Lawrence Gonzi, graduate of the University of Malta’s law faculty?
Muscat’s doctorate title is far more genuine – post-grad PhD from a UK university.
[Daphne – It’s irrelevant either way when you are prime minister. In civilised societies, prime ministers do not insist on referring to themselves as ‘doctor’ because their position as prime minister supersedes their doctorate by far in terms of importance. And in normal life, it is the essence of style to have a doctorate, especially one from an important university, and not run about calling yourself ‘doctor’ outside academic circles. It’s usually the prime ministers and presidents of third-world nations and dictatorships who make a point of this kind of thing. I call it the General Idi Amin Complex.]
Mr. Prime Minister, should suffice.
Muscat’s doctorate title was issued by a genuine university. Whether it is deserved is another matter.
Idi Amin was not a General but a Field Marshal.
You know, just like engineering PhDs over here are not just Mr or even Dr, but Dr Ing..
Oh! I like that one. Really well coined ‘General Idi Amin Complex’ superb.
Welcome back
Hallelujah!!! Daphne is back. You were missed!!!!
In France, up to Master’s level, dentistry students go through a general medicine course. Specialisation only kicks in at PhD level. Several selection are done during the course of the programme.
http://www.studyrama.com/international/etudiants-etrangers/version-francaise/etudier-en-france/la-formation-des-professionnels-de-sante/les-etudes-en-medecine-dentaire-odontologie-40572.html
Dentists and surgeons are officially Mr or Ms.
Wrong – dentists love to adopt the Dr. Even though they are no such thing.
Surgeons are a different matter altogether and you cannot equate a dentist and a surgeon. A surgeon is called Mr. After having been a Dr. Kind of does the full circle.
They are called Mister due to historical facts. In the beginning for surgery, physicians used to call in barbers. They were “misters” and not medical doctors
Welcome back, Daphne. Missed your blog with the real news.
Unfortunately this is a common trait in Maltese culture to grab titles and badges to prove something. They have to carry the word doctor and professor that means that they immediate expertise without being questioned!
This is more of a third world feudal culture that you find in Africa and in China which is what the MLP particularly enjoy.
Welcome back, Daphne. Don’t leave us for such a long time again.
The title of ‘honourable’ is one which is highly debatable since many even while serving as MPs do not act in an ‘honourable’ fashion even in the chamber of Parliament.
Lying and/or refusing to give true answers in Parliament in Question period, demonstrates that those providing them, are in contempt of Parliament and act in a most undemocratic way.
While it is tradition that MPs address each other with the ‘honour’ so and so, in the British Parliamentary fashion, the moment they step out of Parliament, they should be a Mr. and/or Ms. and only medical doctors should continue to be addressed as Drs.
Welcome back, Daphne!
Good to have a holiday, although by the looks of it, it has been a ‘working holiday’.
My two sons have aPHDThey studied for four years in the UK.one did post doc research.I am proud of them but they use it just like everybody to earn a living.We are all the same .
The more expert and recognized, the simpler and blander the reference-to-self extended.