Unforgettable evening in Valletta

I was enjoying one of the lovely, balmy Maltese evenings in the open air with my friends. We had come to Valletta to see the screening of the film 'The Godfather III' by the YMCA, in aid of their project for homeless persons. A relaxing fun and charitable way of spending a summer evening?

Far from it, thanks to a group of local men who burst in midway through the film, shouting, throwing objects about and tearing out cables!

These men were supporters of the local feast, who saw themselves insulted by the YMCA, apparently because of the dismantling of a stand meant for the feast. I understand that they may have been annoyed that the YMCA cleared some space in the square. I do not understand, however, that these men saw their uncivilised behaviour as justified.

One of the men went so far as to reverse his car into the group of sofa chairs that had been provided by the YMCA for the viewers. Luckily, by this time most people had abandoned the sofas and were standing at the side. I myself was still seated, but fortunately not among the chairs that this man hit. Other men were throwing cushions about, overturning chairs and throwing rubbish at the screen. I saw several of these men attempt to hit YMCA members and the projector.

These men certainly managed to disrupt our evening. This whole incident throws up a number of questions for me. Perhaps someone would like to explain these things to me, as I am a foreigner and just cannot figure them out.

These men were accompanied by a Carmelite priest, who not only did nothing to stop the developing violence, but insisted that "this is a solution!" Why was this priest supporting this group?

What had happened that these men, who must after all have been reasonable humans like the rest of us, could not present their viewpoint in a peaceful and respectable manner to the viewers? I realise that every country has its own ways of communicating but surely there are more effective means than shouting and throwing things around. Or am I just being a foreigner who does not understand how things work around here?

The screening hosted by the YMCA was a charity event, and all viewers donated money for a good cause. Some of the men who attacked the event were contending that the YMCA organised events like this one "just to annoy us!" Excuse me? I have never seen a charity event being argued against for that reason, let alone attacked. Where is the Christian spirit?

My perspective of the whole incident is that we were there to have a bit of fun and do a bit of good in the process, and that the evening was rudely disrupted by a group of men who must have seriously misunderstood things. I want to thank the YMCA for the wonderful evenings they have organised for us in the past, and for the charity that they show to the less fortunate people of the island. I wish that those disruptive men revise their means of achieving their goals and that the Carmelite priest reflects on the part that he played in what could have easily escalated into a brawl.

I am trying not to let this incident overly influence my opinion of the Maltese, although sadly I have seen many similar incidents in the four years that I have lived here. To be fair, I have also met many wonderful people on this island, and I hope that they can help their unfortunate fellow citizens. What a shame I had to see this incident happen just before I leave the island for good. It gives my departure a rather different flavour.