Bob Geldof and ANR

The Republican National Alliance quotes a few statements uttered by Bob Geldof (If Geldof Can Say It, Why Can't We, ANR Asks, July 1) in a misleading way to have the public think that the two entities may have some affinities.

Let's face it, if a humanitarian and anti-poverty campaigner like Bob Geldof had to agree with ANR's ideology, which cynic wouldn't doubt his/her personal outlook towards this group and wonder if in some obscure and unintelligible way they could make sense.

Mr Geldof and ANR might see eye to eye when it comes to stating that the EU border agency's t2 million is a joke, or that Malta shouldn't and can't be left alone to battle the very real problem of irregular immigration. They might also agree on the fact that the former colonisers are morally bound to draw up a constructive programme to help the African continent to build itself. However, I believe that their visions are different.

Geldof gives realistic reasons for the fact that if the immigrant population escalates, racism in Malta will be more pronounced. However, I strongly believe he never meant this in the anti-multicultural tone that the ANR are known to stress. He would never come up with an analogy that compares Malta to a toilet (of the Mediterranean).

Intentionally or not, ANR's exclamations to "defend your country from the silent invasion" (of irregular immigrants) and other similar passionate proclamations are intentionally made to instigate fear and insecurity, thus facilitating a self-fulfilling prophecy! Most Maltese have become xenophobic. Mr Geldof's agenda differs radically from that of ANR. His motives and actions are not fuelled by fanatic patriotism but focused on fighting poverty and achieving a just world.

Possibly this is the reason why the ANR is labelled racist and charged in court, but Bob Geldof is not!