Hoist the red and white flag

It's been a while since I put pen to paper to keep voicing my wish and the wish of so many Maltese people who would like to see the George Cross removed from our beloved flag. I do so yet again, not only because I am a firm believer of this cause, but because I keep meeting so many people (and not only Maltese) who share my view and encourage me.

Many times I am being dubbed as "the man before my time" as many of the people I meet are convinced that, one day, the Maltese will come to their senses and fully understand how insulting it is to have a reminder of a foreign person on our flag.

The argument most people make is that there still are a few people among us with a servile mentality, who, for some strange reason, advocate imperialism. So, in the view of the many people I meet, the George Cross will be removed in years to come.

I remind the readers that King George VI had instituted that cross in his name and had emulated what Queen Victoria did before his time. She had instituted the Victoria Cross and used to present it to soldiers for outstanding heroism.

It all boils down to imperialistic idealism with the premise that "one should feel privileged that the queen or the king bestows such an honour". Big deal! That is another reason why I cannot accept any type of monarchy.

Why should the king's or queen's family and their descendants have access to so much wealth and a luxurious life when the people have no say in their election to power or their removal? Power should come from beneath and not the other way around.

As the name clearly states, the George Cross refers to the cross of King George VI. Now if that is not a reminder of a foreign person on our flag, I don't know what is! What right did Governor Gort have to decide on his own and without consulting the Maltese, to put that blessed emblem on our flag? Where were the Maltese? Are we to remain so passive and submissive? Do we really think that our friendship with the British will suffer if we remove that cross? Is our friendship so flimsy?

Only recently, and with pleasure, I got to know that Enzo Gusman referred to this cause on his radio programme. He totally agrees that we should remove the cross from the flag. Well done Enzo.

What do our politicians say? Or is this another delicate area where votes could be lost? What absurd mentality! I dare the present Administration to include this question on the next election ballot paper which could serve as a referendum.

As our national poet so rightly stated: "Il-bandiera bajda u hamra" - The "red and white flag". That is how it should once again become. The flag should be untarnished and free from reminders of past foreign rule and oppression.

I am totally against nazism and fascism, but then I am not in favour of imperialism. As President Emeritus Guido de Marco once said: "We sided the bad to fight against the worst".