Lino Spiteri
University circus
What makes the shouting down of Alfred Sant in a political discussion at the University reprehensible was not only that it happened, but where and by whom. Not all of tomorrow's leaders will be University graduates, but many of them may be expected to be just that. If there will be among them those aggressively intolerant to views they disagree with in their youth, the seed may have taken deep root by the rime they grow up.
What occurred at the University last Monday, when a segment of those present booed and threw foul language at Sant as he tried to speak, was nothing less than naked intolerance. It was also shown towards the leaders of Alternattiva Demokratika and Azzjoni Nazzjonali. But the hyper students in action addressed their harshest vituperation at the leader of the MLP. The way he tried to answer by not answering some of the questions put to him did not help. But, however Alfred Sant chose to answer those who went to the session determined to yell him down would have done the same.
The point is not that they were Nationalist youths, shouting "Gonzi, Gonzi!" until it took their breath away. By their terrible behaviour they did not help Lawrence Gonzi at all. They damaged him and what he stands for. They projected an image of Nationalist youth which Gonzi would hardly delight in seeing on any screen, let alone that framing the coming general election.
I do not fault him for not intervening - like the other leaders present he was a guest of the organisers. It was not for him to try to control the event. Nevertheless I pity him that he had to sit through a demonstration that the Nationalist Party which he leads enjoys that type of support from a hopefully not representative rabble.
Those who enjoyed the spectacle, or reports of it, will say that it served the Labour leader right - in the past, even during his political lifetime, there were components of Labour rabble who were just as crudely intolerant of the views of opponents, if not worse. That is the least convincing argument of all in any discussion between thinking people. If louts stoop to malpractices, those who do like them when they get the opportunity place themselves in the same or a similar category.
Tolerance is not the finest and tallest example of democracy in Malta. There have been many examples of intolerance through the years, running from the Church through the whole political spectrum. Yet, moving forward, one would hope that more and more people grow conscious that intolerance diminishes those who display it. At this stage of the electoral campaign, it would be naïve to expect too many people to retain an open mind. Those who turn up at mass meetings and similar occasions attend mostly to drool at the political loves of their life, to clap enthusiastically on cue, whatever the speakers uttered.
There are other political occasions where one expects a different approach. Certainly, a discussion at the University is one of them. That students turned up in substantial numbers on Monday was healthy, and justifies the organisers' expressed satisfaction. They need not have gone to be convinced or converted, but as the inhabitants of the intellectual world to listen critically to the views expressed.
The students who harangued Sant, as well in lower hoarse voice the two other leaders they did not like, could have allowed the speaker to finish and then shouted their criticism or whistled and booed at will. Turning the occasion into a wildly partisan demonstration which left little room for differing views to clash and contrast did not yield the smallest example of intellectualism.
The politically deaf are entitled to their convictions. They are not entitled to impede opponents from sticking to theirs.
What happened at the University last Monday, however, is symptomatic of a malaise deeper than that of excessive exuberance by youngsters belonging to a particular political party. It reflects, horribly so, a deep trait displayed by practising politicians. That trait has already been in evidence in the political confrontations organised on the public television and sound media as part of the electoral campaign, and in other programmes and chat shows.
The political class, not quite made up of exuberant youngsters, does not give a good example. Members of it might do worse than reflect on their responsibility at least for part of the circus that performed at the University on Monday.
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Lydia Pace Workman
Feb 25th 2008, 02:23
Ms. Attard, do not be too hasty in determining if the change that Malta needs is the one that you suggest so passionately! I remember a Malta years ago, whose citizens had been deprived of choices that were of the utmost importance, from which school their children were to attend to which tasteless chocolate bars they could purchase. Sad changes that deteriorated on a daily basis. Ms. Attard, beware of what you wish for, your wish may just come true.
Mr Spiteri has lived through years and years of being an honest politician, with Malta's best interest at heart always. I am proud that he is Maltese!
DR IRIS PACE
Feb 24th 2008, 22:21
LINO SPITERI is very honest in what he says.
What a pity the LABOUR PARTY 'S leader is not LINO SPITERI !
Having an honest and strong opposition is healthy for the country.
MARTHESE ATTARD please note and try to find out the recent LABOUR PARTY"S history.
Alfred Farrugia
Feb 24th 2008, 19:25
I do not know exactly what happened at the university, so I take Mr. Lino Spirei’s word for it. Assuming that the students did what they did, they rendered a disservice to themselves and to us. They should have allowed the Labour Leader to express himself and expose the way he evades to answer uncomfortable questions and his inability to listen. Lino’s conclusion is perfectly correct. The political class sets a bad example to students. I happened to be at the House of Representatives following the debate on the Education Act when there was a row between the late Paul Carachi and the late Dr. Anton Buttigieg, and when the former sought a seat in the middle of the House. There were much more serious scenes in the House where flowers do not grow, as Lino pointed out. Last Friday on Xarabank the Labour Leader said that he expected students to act in a civil way. I wonder whether he was acting in this way when in a public meeting he called Dom Mintoff a traitor, and more recently tried to play a joke with the Prime Minister’s name! Lino is correct, students should be taught to act in a civil way and to be tolerant, but political leaders provoke their reaction at their peril.
TONY FORMOSA
Feb 24th 2008, 19:17
My old schoolmate Lino Spiteri seems shocked of the Uni students booing and the four letter words that were occasionally uttered.He calls this behaviour 'naked intollerance'. Coming from someone who had lived the shocking scenes at Tal-Barrani,the attitude at Xandir Malta when the name of the Leader of the Opposition Eddie Fenech Adami was not even allowed to be mentioned, apart from the regular punch ups in Parliament and the physical assault on Uni students during Mintoff's regime is more shocking than the contents of his article. Perhaps Lino will do well to tell us what he wrote at the time of the mentioned disgusting scene ,if he ever did.
The writer likes to give us explanations of certain words. Maybe he will tell us all about the word 'hypocrisy'. How can a Labourite be scandalised because Uni students booed !!!!!
There are a few who still owe the Maltese nation an apology.Lino,tell us about them .
Chris Mintoff
Feb 24th 2008, 17:10
I applaud you Mr.Spiteri. The analyses couldn't have been better. I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Katie Micallef
Feb 24th 2008, 16:30
Well put.
Joe Martinelli
Feb 24th 2008, 13:41
Why is Lino surprised at the students' reaction to Dr. Sant? Does Lino accept the fact that Dr. Sant is highly predictable in his inability to give one straight answer? Does Lino expect Dr. Sant to pull wool over the students' eyes? Does Lino expect that even if the students present were not old enough to remember Labour's record regarding the stipends etc. they would have been told by those who experienced them first hand? Does the students' unanimity not tell Lino that not only the present but our future professionals are in complete disagreement with MLP's outdated and yes, dangerous policies? Does it not bother Lino at all that our future relationship with the EU is in extreme jeopardy should Dr. Sant become the next Prime Minister? I don't particularly appreciate those who wear sheepskins.
marthese attard
Feb 24th 2008, 11:58
Ignorance, Intolerance, yelling,stupidity and hatred equals last Monday political discussion at the University. Such type of situation reflects this electoral campaign. The PN are so worried, so vulnerable and so afraid that they are to lose this election that they are behaving in an uncontrable way. POWER is so important for them that the idea of losing POWER is a nightmare. Our country needs a change, our country needs to be free of corruption. Lets clean Malta and Gozo. On 8th March VOTE LABOUR.