Last tanga in Malta

Decidedly this is a government that cares little for emancipated votes and this is well and good especially since it augurs well for us who want it to go on holiday - a very long one. And things seem to be pointing that way as the government would prefer a general election to take place at the same time of a local council election - to limit the damage (two kinds of damage?).

It was first the abortion-in-the-Constitution issue when abortion is rightfully already a crime in Malta. Foreign politicians, including conservative ones, do not believe their ears (which in Malta were supposed to be placed on the ground following analysis explaining to the governing party that it is too distant from people). As to not believing one's eyes, just watch a parliamentary performance solidly built on laughter. But ears and eyes are no longer popular these days. This is the age of noses - especially where it concerns cleaning contracts in court and at the Ministry of Justice.

Then we had statements that the government is dealing with the illegal immigration issue the way the Pope wants us to. Thus, we became an excellent colony of the Vatican.

Finally, long after lap dancing had apparently been taking place, two busloads of East European wows were invited to court to have their skirts brought down to decent levels - even if they may have continued to wear their tangas underneath. Fundamentalism is alive and well in Malta and the condemnation of the tanga may also be placed in the Constitution. And, mind you, if your spouse or partner sits on your lap, she will be contributing to the downfall of morals and the triumph of Satanism.

Reinstatement a must

It is now clear that the Prime Minister had asked for the resignation of John Dalli following an erroneous report that cast unfair criticism on him. It is now time to be gentlemen and reinstate Mr Dalli as minister. This would satisfy the people's call for a Cabinet reshuffle while placing a better man in some badly performing ministries. Otherwise we can only conclude, as Mr Dalli himself said on December 3 in another newspaper that "There is a malaise in the country".

Binge drinking

Now this is really a fashion that must be hounded. As the end-of-year festivities approach, the spectre of binge drinking reappears. Some establishments apparently charge a handsome sum of money to young people who will then be allowed to drink as much as they like. The obvious consequences of this are devastating. Some people are incapable of having two drinks without making beasts of themselves and victims of others. If they argue that they have paid so much and must drink as much, the result is what we have seen over the past years.

University auditing

Some time ago I participated in a well-attended seminar at CNL about university auditing and accountability. All seemed to agree with this. I was slightly confused by an argument of a double-bind nature. A gentleman who agreed with accountability, disagreed with me when I mentioned one way of putting it into practice. Now we all know that the present rector, as in many universities worldwide (please visit various European and American university sites), believes in the rapport between academy and the country's needs. If each university department is yearly capable of proving this, investment at the university will be seen to be bearing fruit. However, if we are scared of restructuring wherever necessary, we would be arguing in favour of adamantly keeping what has always been, which is a ridiculous tenet of conservatism.

I know of several examples of restructuring in foreign universities. All the following universities have restructured over the years: Keele, Cambridge, Oxford, Swansea, King's College, Newcastle, Durham etc. Last year's European Commission's conference in Brussels, called Securing The Future Of European Universities - Consolidating Europe's Research Base, emphasised the contribution of universities to society and restructuring wherever necessary. If we are stubbornly hostile to reform, we might as well be hostile to changing underwear - and retain transport by cart ruts.

Pre-conceived ingredients

Reading an article in another section of the press by Michelle Mallia, president of the PN's women's movement, I obtained the impression that she built her article on pre-conceived ingredients apparently dished out as political instructions by the notorious intelligent strategy group - which had advised on how to lose three local council and one Euro Parliament elections. It is by now obvious and transparent that Nat writers have instructions to shoot down all documents produced by the MLP. The scope is clear. Let's say that our adversaries have no ideas, or that they are weak, that they are flimsy, that we have already had them ourselves, that they have already been implemented etc. Then we can say that the opposition is tabula rasa and they can't possibly be an alternative government. Ergo we must remain in government forever!

A feeble, transparent - and especially undemocratic - argument which has ceased to impress. Indeed a few days after the publication of the article, the ladies movement of the PN flocked in their couple of dozens to their "general" meeting at Ta' Xbiex.

Candide

I enjoy reading Robert Arrigo's articles in another section of the press as much as I enjoy reading Voltaire's Candide. The articles are vivid and enjoyable. But unlike Candide's candidness, when they state that the PN is close to the people (contrary to the opinion of the post mortem commission paid to find reasons for several local and European parliamentary election catastrophes), they remain just enjoyable. As to credible and convincing, yawn! Forget it. Yawn, yawn! No wonder on November 19 the PN secretary general was quoted on TV as saying to his dwindling flock: Let's smile, not look at each other sadly. A balanced compromise between Mr Arrigo and Joe Saliba would be "a popular sadness".

Video cassettes

The European Commission will soon increase its efforts against violence in video cassettes. About time too! How many crimes were committed in imitation of the violence in these cassettes which destroy young people's education and civilised behaviour? Probably countless.

No match

In a recent article, Health Minister Louis Deguara seems to be re-picking up his frequent mention of Alfred Sant, probably a defence mechanism proving that he really likes the man. Once I counted 46 mentions of Dr Sant in a Dr Deguara article. Then this suddenly dropped. Now it's picking up again. Already 11 in the latest article. But there's something more important in this article: "There is no one left to match the Nationalist leader". Which is another way of saying: Après lui le déluge!

Segolene and Nicolas

Segolene Royal's sweeping victory to become presidential candidate with a programme of social democratic reforms is now being challenged by conservative adversary Nicolas Sarkozy. His slogan is Rupture tranquille (calm break). Nobody knows what it means. Perhaps a nap?

Kate's truth

Kate Gonzi has now become a public figure with her participation in her husband's political activities. In Europe this is not much done, but then the PN is not very European, with its fundamentalism (see above). This is an American strategy which, alas, has not worked for George Bush, who has suffered a bush fire after the victories of the American social democrats.

Meanwhile, Mrs Gonzi was interviewed by Illum on November 12 and had this to say about Dr Sant: "Alfred Sant is a person who likes to read and he has a lot of intelligence and he has a lot of culture too. When I spoke to him, he was always polite with me and I too respect him". Yes, but according to the intelligent strategy group, isn't Dr Sant supposed to be dangerous?

Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.