Mark A. Sammut, Valletta
More centre, less left
One cannot but admire Alternattiva Demokratika's Green credentials. If all of society were to heed the warnings the Greens sound from time to time, I am convinced we would be living in a better environment, damaging less our health and the health of future generations.
Yet, no matter how much one admires AD's efforts in favour of the natural environment, one cannot but disagree with Desmond Zammit Marmarà's endorsement of the proposal for an MLP-AD "marriage" (October 1).
Whereas Labour probably shares much of AD's enthusiasm for the environment, there are other very important values on which the two political entities do not seem to agree.
Let us consider the values inspiring social rights.
The Greens, at least on a European level, are in favour of same-sex marriages. Is Mr Zammit Marmarà sure that the majority of Labourites would favour such a transformation of the institute of marriage? Despite the quarrels in the past with some of the leaders of the local Church, the majority of Labourites embrace Catholic values. The Greens, at least on a European level, are all in favour of the secularisation of society.
The majority, at least, seem in favour of the idea that not only do immigrants have to adapt to Europe but that Europe has to adapt to the immigrants. Is Mr Zammit Marmarà sure that the majority of Labourites are in favour of this multiculturalism? Is the majority of the Maltese electorate in its favour?
Actually, by Mr Zammit Marmarà's own admission, "the Maltese electorate seems to be very conservative these days". Why, then, advocate a coalition which would shift Labour leftward?
As the party representing the working classes and small entrepreneurs, Labour should strive to build alliances with entities representing these sectors of society, rather than embarking upon a venture that can only alienate it from a "very conservative" electorate.
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Mark A. Sammut
Oct 11th 2008, 17:31
C Bonell raised a topic which has nothing to do with the proposal for an MLP-AD "marriage"... unless, of course, C Bonell is envisaging a possible adulterous affair with the PN after the marriage! If that is what C Bonell had in mind, then I would say that the adulterous party should leave the marriage... Needless to say, this is all speculative, since I think that an MLP-AD would be null from the very first moment, for more reasons than one.
Also, I think C Bonell's second argument doesn't hold water. One finds more than one type of socialism. Malta's Labour professes a very, very mild form of socialism. To my mind, Malta's Labour movement is sui generis because it is very close to Catholic values, even perhaps as expressed by Leo XIII. (This is why I am against an MLP-AD coalition, because it would increase the socialism in Labour's policies.) Zapatero is manifestly very distant from Catholic values. One has to understand each party in the particular politico-cultural milieu of the country in which it is operating. Post-Franco Spain is not post-Independence Malta...
Thanks to all for expressing their views on my small contribution to the ongoing political debate.
Marvin Mizzi
Oct 10th 2008, 09:24
The only issue is this country is the deficiency in our democracy we have 3 party very similar party centre left to left. In a democracy it is good to have the social democrats and greens in many occasions agreeing on revolutionary ideas ( revolution in the sense provoking the the status quo) but then differing slightly on economic ideas. But the wrong this not having the same on the other side of the spectrum with popular party and conservation party on the centre right to right to discuss free market liberalistion and maintaining of values. But at the least the traditional left party are finally coalising between themselves leaving the other party to ponder his credentials and values.
l Galea
Oct 9th 2008, 17:02
C Bonell
So should we allow ourselves to be carried with the current just to be modern and follow the trend notwithstanding that we know that it will ruin our society?
Marriage is between a man and a woman to perpetuate the human race, while a union between two homosexuals can with no stretch of the imagination be called a marriage.
C Bonell
Oct 9th 2008, 15:35
Mark Sammut seems to have the family at heart and would like to protect it from what he perceives as present day threats. What are his views about another form of threat to the family - namely adultery? How would he treat adulterers ?
-With regard to same sex marriages, the Socialists, at a European level at least, are also in favour of this form of union. Is Mark A. Sammut familiar with Spanish premier Zapatero's legislation in this regard? Zapatero is a Socialist and has okayed gay marriages. Applying M Sammut's logic, the MLP will soon follow suit.
V.Micallef
Oct 9th 2008, 10:28
On second thoughts, is it not funny while heterosexuals are pleading for the right of divorcing themselves from marriage, while homosexuals are clamouring for the right to marry? I was thinking: are we living in normal times? The Chinese use euphemistic terms to describe certain times. I do not agree with the use of that euphemism. I reject the idea that these are "interesting times". I am more inclined to call them "confused times". Same-sex marriage! What will people think of next? A thought has just crossed my mind, but I prefer not writing it down.
M.Bonello
Oct 9th 2008, 10:22
I am not an MLP supporter yet I feel I must express my support for such fresh ideas coming from the Left. It is good to see that not all people leaning towards that party are so anxious to score points as to embrace any preposterous idea emerging in these "post modern" times. One must admit that the secular society has made great strides forward in the sphere of human rights. But same sex marriage is simply preposterous. Homosexuals have many needs, like the rest of us, but marriage is not one of them. What good can come out of such a dubious twist to the institution of matrimony?
L.Portelli
Oct 9th 2008, 10:12
I fully concur with Dr Sammut's moral stance on same-sex marriages. I would like to know from its advocates what social benefits may accrue from this proposition that should entice any political movement to take it up and include it in its programme. This country baffles me. It is either people who want to be more Catholic than the Pope or people who want to be more liberal than Italy's Pannella. Same-sex marriage - bah!
M. Vella
Oct 9th 2008, 10:06
Just for the record...it's only Muscat's MLP that has been proposing this coalition of sorts...has anyone asked what AD thinks? I have never heard any AD official endorse this view. Why not refer to this, for example: http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/il-qawsalla-skond-varist/
l Galea
Oct 9th 2008, 09:53
Mark A. Sammut
V.Micallef
Agree with you both. Apart from some environmental credentials, they have nothing to offer to the Maltese electorate except damaging policies to the Maltese population as you have mentioned.
AD know they have no chance of ever getting an MP or an MEP, they have been used and dumped by the PN, so now they are trying to be matey matey with the MLP to press their agenda through the MLP.
Does the MLP need them?
No, they are only a dangerous burden
V.Micallef
Oct 9th 2008, 09:22
I feel I must endorse Dr Sammut's contribution to the burgeoning debate on a possible MLP-AD alliance. While agreeing with various points raised by AD, I am afraid their exponents come up with notions and ideas that are lifted from their sister parties in Europe that may not curry favour with most MLP rank and file not to mention the majority of the Maltese population. AD have every right to advance their own ideas but Labour should be very cautious about embracing them. More harm than good may befall Labour's prospects not only at the hustings but as a worker's movement moving to embrace small entrepreneurs who are not comfortable with the PN given the latter's evolving into the party of magnates and big business.