By George, no!

Albert Dimech of Sliema wrote (March 21) that I should change my name and give it a Maltese connotation! Interesting, how would you say "Norman" in Maltese? Unfortunately Mr Dimech is one of those people who are missing the point!

I have nothing against English names or people who prefer to speak in English, and I stated so on Xarabank, as long as I am not forced to speak English in my own country, that is, as long as I'm given the choice.

All countries have people with foreign names! This is very normal! In Malta we have Maltese, English, Italian, French, German and other names.

My point is that our flag should be freed from symbols bearing a name of a foreign person, in this case King George VI of England. Yes, that cross was made in his name as can be verified in various official websites. King George copied what one of his ancestors did. Years before, Queen Victoria was awarding the Victoria Cross for bravery by military persons. That medal was also in her name!

In September 1940, during the blitz on England, particularly London, King George VI instituted the George Cross in his name so that it could be awarded to military personnel and even civilians for acts of outstanding gallantry! On April 15, 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island of Malta by means of a letter to Governor General Lieutenant Sir William Dobbie.

Were the Maltese people consulted as to whether they wished their flag to be tainted by a constant reminder of war and submission to foreign rule? Did the Maltese want future generations to bear witness of this past fact? The Maltese had no say; we were then subjects of the British Crown. Am I proud of that? Goodness no! I hope all of us Maltese prefer to be, as indeed we are now, an independent nation, with no military base! However, I suspect that some people wish to turn the clock back to those days when we were not allowed to run our own country and when some of us were shot dead for demonstrating after the price for bread had suddenly shot up. We all know of June 7, 1919.

If this symbol is so important (after all it was rewarded to various British people) why is it not featured on the British flag? Are we happy to be referred to as the George Cross island? I don't think so!