Worth reading
Glenn Bedingfield finds a new job as a sculptor-model.
Anthropologist Mark-Anthony Falzon interviewed by Christian Peregin in The Times today:
Meanwhile, anthropologist Mark-Anthony Falzon, who was not surprised by Mr Lowell’s result, said the ones to blame for such a result were the two big parties.
“Having skirted the issue for years, they suddenly decided immigration was our number one problem but failed to come up with tangible solutions to the problem they so blew up.
“They ended up playing into the hands of Lowell, who also managed to make our other politicians look soft. The lesson is that xenophobia is a Frankenstein which invariably ends up a threat to its own maker,” he said.
Dr Falzon said AD’s “disaster” was its own doing, because it fed on the failings of others and used a negative and sanctimonious strategy which had begun to irritate people.
“I also think (AD chairman) Arnold Cassola’s adventure in Italy made him unelectable and he has now become a liability to the party.”
He added that each party’s policies may have had nothing to do with the result. Interestingly, the elected candidates were those who were “anointed” by the parties – the ones the party wanted to elect.
But all this has precious little to do with 2013.
He felt the result could actually benefit the PN, in the sense that people voted for a sort of “balance of power”, voting Labour in the local council and EP elections, and PN in the general election.
“Irrespective of what Joseph Muscat says, Labour is still low on electability.
“Victory by default did not happen in 2008, nor will it happen in 2013. I have yet to see evidence of a strong pro-Labour shift among university students, for example, or young middle-class types.
“On its part, the PN will now probably be very concerned to curry favour, which is not necessarily good for the country. I dread to think what may happen to the planning regulations, for example.”
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“On its part, the PN will now probably be very concerned to curry favour, which is not necessarily good for the country. I dread to think what may happen to the planning regulations, for example.”
I wonder, would PN stand to gain more by refusing to play the game of currying favour? Among people of my age group (late twenties/early thirties) there is an appetite for a strong decisive government that is not held hostage to narrow interests. We just want to see things done right and have high expectations of a PN government. Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to gauge whether the hostage-takers or the rest of us have the numbers.
[Daphne – I feel the same way as you do, and I’m in my 40s. Unfortunately, the hostage-takers and blackmailers, with their various special interests, together make a decisive difference to the outcome of an election, any election. This is the coalition that Muscat is talking about. It is not unusual. In US politics, these special interest groups are brought together and talked about in terms of a ‘coalition’ (the British talk in terms of audiences). However, these interests are usually compatible, rather than a hodge-podge that seeks to cater, on the one hand, to those seeking gay marriage and, on the other hand, to those who wish to have Africans left to drown rather than bring them ashore.]
This post has reminded me of another article by an anthropologist. If i am not mistaken Daphne had written along these lines in relation to family life in a matriarchal community before the introduction of marriage.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,627363,00.html
It seems to me that the people who read your blogs Daphne like to think of themselves as being quite ‘above’ others. Reading comments with reference to Labourites as ‘chavs’, ‘bastards’, ‘bangles and chains’ … seems to me that the ‘UBER ALLES’ attitude is being used.
[Daphne – I hate to point this out, but haven’t you picked up the attitude and terms of description used for people like me by the people you describe? My first and only experience of being spat at in the street was by Labour-voting women (and I knew not because they wore bangles, something I do myself, but because of their expletive-interlaced class hdura) after the 1996 general election. The first time was outside Marks & Spencers in Sliema, and the women looked entirely normal but clearly felt they could behave with impunity now that the citadel was theirs. And the second time was in Valletta’s Republic Street, and the women didn’t only spit but screamed and hollered. As I walked down Republic Street, there were further insults and remarks. I must point out, however, that being a size 6, fairly young and very defiant at the time, I wore a highly provocative outfit of skin-tight orange-and-pink flowered 1970s hipsters and platform boots that put me at six feet tall. I didn’t spit back, though the temptation was huge.]
These people shouldn’t even call themselves Nationalists since Nationalists all across Europe have moved very far away from far rightists. It disappoints me because I am no ‘suldat ta’ l-azzar’ nor a supporter of ‘ha joghlew il- prezzijiet’, but it’s disgraceful, very unPC.
[Daphne – God, political correctness. How very dull.]
People have been pointing fingers this week at ‘il-Qahbu’ for causing trouble but to be honest with you I find no difference between arrogant people and thugs. Both of these should play no part in modern society. Shame!
[Daphne – Your sense of humour leaves a lot to be desired. I bet you’re a real cracker at a party.]
On another note I believe this election reflects the current mood in the country. I haven’t lived in Malta for the past three years but whenever I’m there on holiday all I hear is water, electricity, roads, food prices, moan moan moan whinge whinge whinge.
In reality the PN government hasn’t really tackled these issues. Personally, the fact that they backed out of the transportation issues just because bus drivers decided to take over for a couple of days makes me question the government. PL on the other hand decided to point all of this to the people over and over again until the people decided not to bother at all and 21% stayed at home with their loved ones. Both parties are failing miserably.
There is no real way forward being shown and the people have had enough of the so-called sacrifices. Soon elections in Malta will become like here in the UK with a miserable turnout of 39%, because day to day issues are not being tackled. Today the GDP shrunk, people blaming recession, people blaming the government, always pointing fingers … my opinion is that Malta’s economy cannot sustain itself anymore, money generated is minimal compared to money spent, and in reality not enough is being spent … state of the roads one example. I could go on forever but my lunch break is up soon …
moan moan moan whinge whinge whinge
Too right. I wonder what the moaners and whingers would do if they lived in the UK and
1 lost their job
2 lost their home
3 had to queue for hours for a chance at a low-paying job
or
1 kept their job
2 had to spend at least half their income on rent or on a house that is now worth less than they owe on it
3 had to spend the other half of their income on trasport and food.
There’s plenty to complain about here – if you’re the sort to live in a bubble.
Oh my God, it’s just brilliant how the good old Nazi terminology “über alles” is being used so out of proportion.
Used as a catchy phrase and not very PC either (if you insist on being PC).
In a democracy it’s not only a right, it is a duty to criticise political parties or the government (to prevent the “über alles” mentality, by the way) and to stir up the swamp.
A healthy democratic government NEEDS a strong opposition, and it needs every discerning voice from every single person, the media and other political parties.
And as Daphne said, the art of spitting is used on both (or more) sides, only the virtuosity is different.
These people shouldn’t even call themselves Nationalists since Nationalists all across Europe have moved very far away from far rightists. It disappoints me because I am no ’suldat ta’ l-azzar’ nor a supporter of ‘ha joghlew il- prezzijiet’, but it’s disgraceful, very unPC.
All Nationalists who have moved as quoted “very far away from far rightists” should not be called Nationalists.
[Daphne – Yes, of course, because we’re still in the 1930s.]
Get off your high horse, Aaron. Sitting on the far right of the political spectrum is a disgrace, not an honour.
@ Corrinne Vella – Anyone implying that it is a disgrace or an honor to be on EITHER SIDE of the political spectrum is an idiot. Everyone has the right to have their own political views.
@ DCG – You’re right Daphne, if we were still in the 1930s we wouldn’t have free health care, impressively high stipends for students and a government which spends so much money on illegal immigrants which result in so many complaints from the opposition, all because a nationalist party in a 1930 government would still act under REAL conservative thinking. Then again, PN had to do what it had to do to get elected and I accept that – what I wouldn’t accept is calling PN true nationalists when taking into consideration all these factors, moreover making up excuses about times changing. Be real, times change; political ideologies don’t.
Aaron: I’m not implying it, I’m saying it outright. And I’m not talking about ‘either side’ of the political spectrum. I’m talking about the far right, just as you are. I’ll say it again, positioning yourself to the far right of the political spectrum is a disgrace, not an honour. We agree on one thing – everyone has the right to political views. Let’s face it, no one can prevent you having political views, but it’s the far right that can stop everyone else expressing theirs. Please do yourself a favour and brush up on the full implications of what you’re talking about. We need no further evidence that the far right round here is populated by those who don’t think.
You’re saying it outright? Take time to re-read my post, according to my opinion, your “outright” statements make you an “outright” idiot – I’m afraid we don’t agree on anything sweetheart.
You’re the misinformed one here Corrine, you believe everyone has the right to have their own opinion, yet you look down upon people who have certain opinions.
I know what the far right stands for, Corinne and associating far right values do not include dictatorships (Hitler, most notorious for his right extremist values was a dictator). As the following idiom states: “once bitten, twice shy.” we are more likely to see left-wing dictators than right-wing dictators in the future – rightists have learned their lesson.
As a matter of fact, alot of the dictatorships we see today are left-wing : Cuba? Libya? Zimbabwe?
Norman Bowell’s movement is disgusting.
Yes, I’m saying it outright and I understood your post the first time round.
“We don’t agree on anything”. Too right. Unlike you, I believe even the incoherent and misinformed have a right to air their opinion and that mine is not the only one.
I’m rather pleased you think me an idiot. Given your political leanings, your admiration would be worrying.
Daphne invite me to one of your parties and see for yourself.
[Daphne – I don’t throw parties. And I don’t understand what you mean.]
[Daphne – Your sense of humour leaves a lot to be desired. I bet you’re a real cracker at a party.]
So I’ll throw a party and invite you instead.
[Daphne – Right, now I understand. The comments come up in chronological order, so I have no indication of which comment people might be replying to.]