Hostile reception

Clive Brockdorff

Jan 9th 2009, 17:56

Childish and hypocritical. Perfectly acceptable in a free society though - although it seems that it's usually free societies which get pilloried.

Joseph Schembri

Jan 9th 2009, 17:55

I admire the young people in this pressure group - instead of giving in to the modern trend of neo fascism that seems to be taking over the country they promote peace and criticise warmongering.

I am not impressed by a few sailors doing 'voluntary work' for a day or two in our country and I believe that visits by such war machines are a threat to our national security.

It is a bit like one of the world's biggest junk food chains which generates millions of tonnes of waste every week, participating in a clean up the world campaign for one day each year by having their workers 'volunteer' to pick up rubbish from the streets.

ray. caruana

Jan 9th 2009, 17:03

I suppose graffitti sees every visit by a US navy ship as a blessing otherwise they wouldn't have anything else to do and no one would know that they exist.

IBorg

Jan 9th 2009, 14:09

No problem with protesting - thats a fundamental right. Then, why not protest against Iran which is trying to possess a nuclear bomb (surely not for peaceful purposes), against Hamas which doesnt accept a 2 state solution, against Al Qaeda which is always planning to kill and lots of other reasons that seem to escape the target of this group. May I remind Graffiti, that warships are there to stay irrelevant of their protests as they are intended to protect the interests of the country they serve.

Joseph Cauchi

Jan 9th 2009, 13:36

It is such a pathetic sight to see always the same faces of people who call themselves the "Graffitti" group, every time a military vessel from the West/Nato pays a cordial visit to our harbours.

Can't these people realise that their antics are now so blatantly clear on whose side they are on? They are definitely not neutral and they only represent the hard core of the left in Malta,

Luckily these "Graffitti" protesters are a dying breed in Malta and thank goodness for that.

Grow Up Please.

I heartily welcome the US and Nato military vessels any time.

May your visits be more frequent as ever!

Welcome to Malta and enjoy your stay among us.

../..

Denis A. Darmanin

Jan 9th 2009, 12:59

I feel badly for both the Palestinians and Israeli civilians that have become caught or fallen victim in this latest 'outrage'. Yes, demonstrate, peacefully, as you're living in a democratic country that gives you this right. But It seems that certain 'protests' are always one-sided and would be interesting to see demonstrations against what the Taliban are doing in Swat (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7815082.stm), against Mugabe in Zimbabwe or the murderous rampages against Christians in many African and Asian countries.
Oh, I'm sorry; the Taliban, Mugabe and their likes are not democratic movements from the West.
I had once protested against the Viet Nam War back in Australia in the 60s/70s.
I also shouted 'Better Red than Dead'. Then I realised that it will be the Reds who will soon be dead; and Communism did collapse. Given a choice, I rather back what the West stands for, with all its pros and cons, rather than the tyrany that Taliban and similar murderous fanatics stand for!

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 9th 2009, 12:36

Further to my previous comment, I would expect such protests too, when British Royal Navy warships visit their much beloved ex-British Colony, Malta.....!!

Jesmond Micallef

Jan 9th 2009, 12:32

With all due respect to the goodwill visit of USS Barry, but youngsters that express certain ideals, such as a war fee world, is not offending at all. The Great American Dream is afterall an ideal too !! @ Andrew Gatt : Is n't this a reality too !!!

I have respect for the United States of America, it s a very important nation to the world. It symbolises what generations of people who left their homelands, whatever the reason, have achieved.

Joe Scerri

Jan 9th 2009, 12:01

I never seem to hear any protests when warships that do not belong to USA or NATO visit.

Will they be protesting when Russian warships visit ?

I think not so as they do not want to offend their political masters.

Rayomnd Camilleri

Jan 9th 2009, 11:35

Some people cannot for one minute understand what being an active citizen of a country means... irrespective of the issue being promoted/contested.

Stephen Vella

Jan 9th 2009, 11:28

Hilarious! GROW UP Graffitti

Bill Millam

Jan 9th 2009, 11:21

To graffitti movement and its misguided members:
KELB JINBAH MA JIGDIMX

Bill Millam
Los Angeles

Michael Neville Cassar

Jan 9th 2009, 11:01

Dear USN sailors do not be surprised with this group of protesters ,they protest about everything right and wrong left and right they protest so much that they forgot why they enjoy freedom. That is through the force of good against evil.

Iris Azzopardi

Jan 9th 2009, 10:49

I am always amazed by the attention given in the local media to these silly antics by the same handful of young (and not so young) people with time on their hands.

Joe Morana

Jan 9th 2009, 10:32

Here's a thought: These misguided pawns of the radical left and foreign anti-U.S. proganda machines seem to overlook the fact that the U.S. Navy uses its resources to conduct humanitarian operations on a world-wide scale. Such as diverting a flotilla of Navy ships headed for assignment in Korean waters in order to render aid to the thousands of stranded inhabitants of the Indonesian Archipelago at the time of the devastating Indian Ocean Tsunami of December 26th, 2004

James A. Tyrrell

Jan 9th 2009, 10:31

Well of course warships kill. That's the idea! Hopefully however they kill those who are threatening peace in the world.

H Gatt

Jan 9th 2009, 10:20

@Mario Attard
As the article reports: "The Barry is here on a visit to mark the 100th anniversary of the "Great White Fleet", a historic US Navy goodwill voyage around the world that included a stop in Malta in January 1909."
The protest itself has NOTHING AT ALL to do with the historic goodwill voyage that the Barry was commemorating so it should not have been held in the first place. Graffitti protested only because the warship happened to be American...I don't recall any similar protests when we had a Russian warship. I'm not the type of person to go out of my way to mock, insult or ridicule anyone, but I'm sorry, this whole situation is ridiculous! When are we going to grow up and call a spade a spade?

Mario Attard

Jan 9th 2009, 09:52

You may not agree with them,and you are at liberty to constructively criticise them.They have an equal right to demonstrate. That is an essential part of Democracy.

I do notice however that Graffitti do not go out of their way to personally insult and mock. Sarcasm is very low wit.

Why don't all of you argue the issue as opposed to show venom toward those who perhaps think further than their nose. This not only applies to comments on this demonstration

H Gatt

Jan 9th 2009, 09:37

@J Caruana
Good one! Your comment was funnier than the joke of the day! ;)

Andrew Gatt

Jan 9th 2009, 09:30

Get a life! Get real! This is the real world......not some utopian paradise where all is well and love is in the air.

j.caruana

Jan 9th 2009, 09:23

well done graffiti !!!! you should have been the ones to be rewarded with the Republic medal

Charles Sammut

Jan 9th 2009, 09:05

Empty vessles make most sound.