No Comment

I am posting this unofficial documentary about some things Maltese without comments for now. Feel free to comment below – I intend to add my own commentary later. Thanks to Mark for signalling this documentary. The documentary is signed martinburlund and from what I can gather it is a Danish production that “has not yet been made official”.

Contents of this post will be updated later

Fat Man Talking (the metaphor)

Mirror mirror on the wall

I’m not saying that I’m not a liberal … I’m not saying that I am a liberal either. These confounded explanations cannot be helpful to a politician. It can be quite straightforward if you really try.Let’s take the example of a Christian Democrat of the typewho find their inspiration straight from papal encyclicals and whose past political stances really show it…it would be difficult for such a person to twist and turn within this self-imposed straightjacket and try to claim the unclaimable simply in order to fit into a party that still tries to kid itself that it is an “Umbrella Party”.

Since we love metaphors,let us think of the PN as a big big fat man (1) who owns a very very thin and small mirror. Every glance he gets at the mirror he only sees a part of the whole since the whole picture cannot be reflected (2) . He is pleased with what he sees because he cannot see the big picture and how unpleasant it is to the naked eye. So lives on, comfortable in his mind that all is well and that a couple more visits to McDonald’s will do no harm (3).

Here’s Tonio Borg’s letter to the Times (4) that inspired this quick post:

With reference to the article titled PN Is Not Liberal (January 26) I would like to correct the reported facts.

At no instance during the dialogue held at the Balzan Nationalist Party office on Sunday, January 25, did I make a reference to same sex marriages or cohabiting couples. It must be stated that I made no reference to the “conservative ideology” governing the values of the Nationalist Party (7). To the contrary, I said that the PN’s principles are not based on liberalism but on sound Christian Democratic principles. This implies that the Nationalist Party is not governed through a laissez-faire attitude but one where state regulation ensures the protection of those citizens in most need of protection and assistance. (5)

Furthermore, in Parliament, I stated that it would be unjust for the landlord to be forced to acknowledge at his expense the transfer by inheritance of a lease to relationships beyond the current ones protected by law. (6)

(1) Yes this MIGHT sound politically incorrect but the size is an essential part of the metaphor.

(2)  Unless he holds the mirror very far away but then it would be too far to see the contents thereof (we’re talking women’s nosepowdering mirror) – that’s for the pedants among you.

(3) Not that I am implying that a couple of visits to McD could harm you. I love the vanilla milkshake – so long as they keep that shake messers NoGlobal can go taunt Burger King instead (incidentally BK have a good vanilla ice cream).

(4) One  last footnote… why does Tonio Borg sign in this fashion: “Tonio Borg, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Valletta” when he is very evidently speaking in defence of his party and the principles he believes it holds dear? I mean this is not exactly Malta’s policy on Gaza is it?

(5) Ok one more. Does the last sentence really and truly mean that the PN will care for the rights of poofs? Yep … I’m in politically incorrect mode. If you don’t like it… bite me. In case you are still concentrating re: the last sentence the clue lies in the use of the phrase “in most need of assistance”. In fact it’s a bit like asking a Lowellian supporter to draft a list of criteria of which immigrants to save from the sea.

(6) This one is an appeal for clarity. Would the last paragraph be an attempt to befuddle the readers with a totally unrelated sentence? Or was Tonio’s Voice truncated by an ill-meaning liberal subversive working at Strickland House. Hmmm.

(7) Forget the order. Just noticed this one. The fact that he “made no reference” to something does not mean that it does not exist. Is it a denial or an affirmation? God knows? And in this case god seems to be the Deputy Prime Minister speaking on party affairs.

All references to size and weight in this post are purely metaphorical and fictitious. The weight mentioned in this story has no connection to any weight in real life (neither do the words “poof “or “Lowellian”). Eat at least five fruits a day to remain healthy and never (never ever) be rude to a homosexual or far right loonie (even when this turns out to be the same person). J’accuse supports homosexual rights, the freedom of expression and the right of McDonalds to sell milkshakes within the laissez-faire free market. It even supports the right of Tonio Borg to be a conservative Christian Democrat.

This has been J’accuse… outing non-liberals so that you don’t have to!

Immigration and the European Parliament Elections

 

From the Telegraph

The tiny island of Lampedusa, Italy has witnessed a “jailbreak” of around 700 immigrants from their detention centre. The centre where the immigrants were held is designed to hold 850 immigrants but is currently bursting at the seams with over 2000 residents. The Lampedusa mayor described the event as a “protest” rather than an escape.  These events come hot on the heels of a UN Report on the situation of immigrants on Malta in which the UN said that Malta could do more for the immigrants (and that’s a euphemism):

 

Malta’s detention policy for irregular immigrants was heavily criticised by a United Nations working group that described the conditions at Safi and Lyster barracks as appalling and detrimental to the immigrants’ health. The UN Working Group on Arbitary Detention yesterday presented its preliminary findings after a five-day trip that included visits to the detention centres, Corradino Correctional Facilities and meetings with the government.

Both small Mediterranean islands receive a disproportionate amount of immigrants who end up on their land while on their way to mainland Europe. Both islands are facing a logistical disaster that is a humanitarian crisis in the making. The problem for the governments of Italy and Malta is that the idea of “burden sharing” is a tough one to sell. Outgoing US Ambassador to Malta Molly Bordonaro described an agreement between Malta and the USA for the US to relieve Malta of  a number of immigrants as a resounding success. Small wonder that it was. Few other countries, especially in the EU block are willing to engage in the burden sharing business. Immigrants and immigration is a dirty business and the less hands are sullied the better.

Governments see immigration as a short-term catastrophe. Creating solutions rarely rakes in votes when the solutions mean a better life for the immigrants. It also means less incentive on the part of cynic politicians to try. More and more citizens resent the presence of immigrants on their land. Threats to jobs are mentioned and all it takes is the presence of immigrants at state funded hospitals to light the ever shorter fuse of intolerance. The racism card is waved all too easily at times but the problem goes far beyond simple black or white. 

One would expect that an issue such as illegal immigration and immigration would be a top issue for the elections for the European Parliament. But how far do the powers of the EP go when it comes to EU action on immigration? Is the EP much more than an organised pressure group on the governments? Will it win any tug of war with Council on the issue? Maltese candidates tend to tow the party line on this matter. Sofar neither of the two behemoths that squat the limelight of Maltese politics have produced satisfactory conclusions – whether you see this from the perspective of humanitarian NGOs or of far right loonies proposing to shoot immigrants on sight and turn them back to their shores.

 

On the one hand the topic of illegal immigration might not be that much of a priority when it comes to chosing Malta’ next MEPs (5 in all). On the other hand it does serve to illustrate how unrepresentative the candidates can really be when they are stuck to an incompetent, opportunistic party line that does not seem to go much farther than blaming the elements.

This post also appears on The Malta Chronicle.

Under the Hot Sun even Umbrella Parties Wilt

The MEP election run is still in low gear yet the Great Umbrella Party of Priests and Liberals is already beginning to feel the heat. Of course I am referring to none other than the Party that tries to please all and whose hodge-podge of conveniently chosen principles and promises should be entitled The Great Oxymoron of Conflicting Truths for the Gullible Voter and Fanatic Supporter. Now I can truly understand why erstwhile commentators so firmly believe that the PN is truly a liberal party albeit in cassock and sandals.

I’m sorry but the Chinese-like manner of naming things can be infectious and ever since I read of GonziPN’s renaming of the National Library as the National Palace of New Thinking I am on a roll. That is not what I am here to talk about however. I am here to show you why it is still difficult to please all of the people all of the time or – as I wrote some days ago – why you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

So back to Edward Demicoli. The brave young turk took a stand on hunting. Against it he was and convincedly so. He is one of the kings’ men in a race for MEP running on a PN ticket to join that other Great Umbrella in Europe known as the PP. Someone else who had sheltered under the same Great Umbrella (the national one) in an earlier race held last year was irked by Ed’s position vis-a-vis all things hunting. Here’s what a local newspaper reported (my underlining):

Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud had confirmed with the party’s general secretary that the PN had not changed its stand on spring hunting before writing an article criticising his own party’s MEP candidate Edward Demicoli. Mr Mifsud yesterday wrote in The Times criticising Mr Demicoli’s categorical stand against spring hunting, accusing him of “compromising” the party to “gain some personal political mileage”.

It transpired that PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier was aware of the bad vibe Mr Demicoli’s declaration created among Nationalist hunters. Mr Mifsud was elected for the first time to Parliament in the last election from the seventh district, a hotbed for hunters and trappers.

“I am not contesting whether Mr Demicoli is right or wrong on the issue but as a party we promised hunters and trappers that we will defend their right to spring hunting and we have to keep it. The article was my personal reaction but it also reflected that of my constituents,” Mr Mifsud said when contacted yesterday. He said constituents were annoyed by Mr Demicoli’s declaration that he will work to stop spring hunting.

Ouch. So in other words are we to understand that the Nationalist Party has a clear policy to protect the right to spring hunting? Are we Paul? If so, then aren’t we in a bit of a quandary when we choose to vote for Ed Demicoli come June? Will Ed toe the party line or stand up for his admirable principle? This is what Ed thinks:

“I believe everybody is entitled to his opinion so I will not dwell on the article. What is important is that people have a right to know who they are voting for and how they are going to be represented. I have made my personal opinion against spring hunting and on several other issues clear. Now it will be up to the people to decide come June”

Of course you are entitled to an opinion you schmuck (and I say schmuck lovingly and in a very friendly manner)… sadly the voter is also entitled to know whether you will be voting according to your conscience or in line with the latest dictat from Gonzi’s PN. Somehow I get the feeling that this umbrella business can be very unwieldy – to the point that the PN might leave it up to the ECJ to decide its policy on hunting:

Contacted yesterday, Dr Borg Olivier confirmed the version of facts as given by Mr Mifsud. Dr Borg Olivier said the PN’s position on hunting and trapping is “the same as that negotiated and agreed by the government with the EU and is part of the Accession Treaty”. The interpretation of this position is now subject to a case before the European Court of Justice, Dr Borg Olivier added.

Eh? Trust me when I say this… nowhere in the remit of the ECJ is there written that it is bound to interpret the position on hunting and trapping of any umbrella party. If the PN cannot be clear, black on white, where it stands then I am sorry for candidates with balls and guts like Ed Demicoli but voters cannot really afford to throw their ballot in favour of an umbrella that will fly off with the first gust of wind….

When the sun shines, we’ll shine together
Told you I’ll be here forever
Said I’ll always be a friend
Took an oath, I’ma stick it out till the end

Now that it’s raining more than ever
Know that we’ll still have each other
You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella

(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella, eh eh eh, eh eh eh)

This post also appears in the Malta Chronicle.

Liquorice All Sorts

They come in all colours

Keith Grech has been blogging sometime now on Cacoethes Scribendi. In his first reaction to the PL announcement of the list of candidates for the elections for the European Parliament Keith describes the list as “impressive“.  He goes one step further by stating that Labour has ” has managed to achieve the right mix of talent and experiences” in this motley crew.

Of course “motley crew” is my addendum – don’t expect Keith to come up with such kind of colourful phrases about the choice of his party for the next chicken run erm sorry election. Keith is my laboratory rat in this particular post but what I say for Keith’s generous assessment could apply for the assessment by a commentator on the other side of Malta’s duo-chromatic political spectrum.

They have a way with shooting words and ideas you see, and if you do not stop and think you tend to just let the information knock you senseless before you can even think of exercising your mental abilities to assess the candidates. What exactly is “the right mix of talent and experiences”? Is that an inclusive definition? As in right because it includes all that is necessary to appease a hungry voting public? But what would that mean? If every candidate has one or two traits that contribute to the whole then surely the public could find itself short-changed even if a maximum of five find their way to Brussels or Strasbourg.

It’s easy to say “right mix” but then what is the right mix? Is it an exclusive justification? Exclusive as in a good mix because it leaves out unpleasant unwanteds like lets say pro-choice individuals, homosexuals, transvestites or pornstars? What is the right mix Keith? Or maybe I should be asking the reader? What is the right mix?

Perhaps we are being too harsh. After all there is only so much the umbrella parties of ours can do to hit every electoral segment under the sun. The mother of five, the nurse, the doctor, the deejay and the party lackey. Hell the Labourites even have “the one who made way for Inhobbkom Joseph” in their midst. Some will come along and tell you that they have “vast experience of the EU institutions” as PN’s RMTT did last time round in 2004 (presumably those nights studying Craig and De Burca must have contributed to this “vast experience”).  Others might tell you that they only campaigned against EU membership for the good of the country and are now on the Labour ticket because … erm because what?

Arnold of AD will be having a hard time explaining why his electorate keeps shifting (that’s a polite way of explaining why he swings from country to country in the hope of getting elected somewhere).  Maybe that’s a European quality the others miss after all.

It’s an honest question really. What qualities will the Maltese be looking for in the next MEP candidates? Will the nihil obstat from party luminaries suffice? Will the bluff and banter of the party campaign machines be loud enough to blur the choice between next comet and lackey buffoon? Who knows… in the meantime we just have to make do with the mix…

… haven’t we always?

This post also appears in The Malta Chronicle