Emily Barbaro-Sant, Mosta
Rude and offensive carnival goers
Mgr Mario Grech, the Bishop of Gozo, was quoted as saying during Ash Wednesday's ceremony at the Gozo Cathedral that the behaviour of some during the Nadur Carnival was rude and offensive.
Nadur Carnival is known for its spontaneity. All well and good. However, this does not spell behaving badly, being indecent or, worse still, hurting religious sentiments by impersonating the holy figure of Jesus and the Apostles. This is in very bad taste, indeed.
As far as it is known, this is also not within the parameters of the law and one rightfully asks where were the police at the time...? The culture of making fun of the authorities is rapidly being promoted, calling it maturity. However, is it?
Is it possible that here in Malta we have reached a stage where offending and hurting the religious beliefs of the country in various ways is left unheeded?
One sincerely hopes that offenders were brought to book.
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Zammit
Mar 6th 2009, 19:47
Since the Nadur carnival crimes are still "sub iudice" I am not going to comment for the time being. But surely our public love for Christ will surely be expressed somehow.
Joe Xuereb
Mar 6th 2009, 08:24
Nadur Carnival will be no more (as Carnival with no spontaneity is no Carnival at all). But all is not lost. Joe Zammit's suggestion is excellent. Reparation in the street of Nadur will make sure that the circus comes to town. The usual normal dress-code will apply - from skimpy to full Tcoverage, according to taste and the weather of course. There are situations in life that are described as 'setting oneself up to fail'. This is just one fine example of these situations. If you do not want to be ridiculed, do not be ridiculous. From Joe Zammit's point of view, his repertory has expanded from the boring and mantric 'sex for procreation' and 'homosexuals are lustful filth - ħmieġ u ħama - to now also include Karnivalati.
Kenneth Cassar
Mar 6th 2009, 07:52
@ Joe Zammit:
"The devil needs action against him. He inspires his followers to despise Christ, our Saviour, and so public reparation will be an adequate answer to him".
Here's an idea. Next year, go to Nadur Carnival dressed as a devil.
Kenneth Cassar
Mar 6th 2009, 07:47
@ J Martinelli:
"If, hypothetically and in fun, someone ridicules your mother, would you just sit there and grin?"
I'll answer this question myself, if you don't mind. If my mother freely chose to be a public figure, then yes, I would just sit there and grin.
S. Vella
Mar 5th 2009, 22:09
@Saviour Attard
As an atheist myself I agree with you that you have every right to convey your religion's teachings. However, you have no right to impose on my freedom of speech and expression just because you think you are right. Respect goes both ways.
For all the catholics that got offended/insulted, may I remind you one of Jesus' teachings "Let he who hath no sin cast the first stone" (might have got it a bit garbled but the gist is there).
Robert Attard
Mar 5th 2009, 20:59
@Joe Zammit
Are you really suggesting that I may need some form of exorcism?
Robert Attard
Mar 5th 2009, 20:52
@martin borg
can you explain how on earth I am imposing my views? I am an atheist and I ll be the first one to laugh if someone had say an atheist joke!!!
alfred curmi
Mar 5th 2009, 19:10
Alfred Curmi - Tarxien
The Malta Constitution clearly states that the official religion of our country is : the Catholic Apostolic Roman Religion. So the law has been publicly broken and the sentiments of the majority of the Maltese have been hurt and badly.
If I just brake the law for a simple parking offence, I am justly booked and taken to Court.
This is a very 'heartbraking event' which should have never been allowed to happen in the very first place.
If the polce who were present have taken immediate and proper action, as they should have done, there and then, this would have been averted.
I pray for all involved to see and accept the truth because Jesus is our Saviour and His Almighty Name is always to be praised and adored throught the whole world.
Yes I quite agree with Mr. Joe Zammit that words are not enough and we should make a public reparation in the streets of Nadur.
Joe Zammit
Mar 5th 2009, 17:47
Now we still are in time to do what is necessary. But first and foremost we need to make public reparation for the public offence made in the streets of Nadur. Words alone are not enough. The devil needs action against him. He inspires his followers to despise Christ, our Saviour, and so public reparation will be an adequate answer to him. The devil can't bear Christ. Seeing us praising and publicly loving Christ will be for him a great defeat. We need to make public reparation. We have a right to make it. So, let's make it!
Ramon Casha
Mar 5th 2009, 16:21
@J Martinelli: Apples and oranges. People also refer to the fat red man as "Father Christmas" and priests as "Father" but nobody really thinks of them as literal parents (unless the priest has been very naughty). In any case, if I knew that Nadur Carnival was an event at which people's mothers are generally ridiculed and I didn't want to deal with that, I'd stay away.
On the second bit, I am unlikely to be in a position to dictate the wording of my own obituary. Besides, funerals, obituaries and the like are for the living not for the dead. Let them write whatever makes them feel best on my obituary, I won't be around to complain.
martin borg
Mar 5th 2009, 15:51
@ Saviour Attard. Conveying God's word to one and all does not equate with calling for the arrest of those misguided Nadur carnivalgoers who put Christ and His Apostles to ridicule, as was advocated by Emily Barbaro Sant.
@ Robert Attard. If you expect people to respect your religious beliefs (or lack of them) the least you could do is refrain from shoving your views on the virgin birth down Catholic throats.
What's good for the goose ............................................
Joe Tabone-Adami
Mar 5th 2009, 15:31
Humour is one thing. Blasphemy is something completely different. I wonder what would have been the result if the same persons involved in the impersonation of our Holy Redeemer were to impersonate some figures from other religions, say Islam!! By now they would have certainly been the target of a Fatwa.
saviour attard
Mar 5th 2009, 14:22
Robert Attard
Dear friend, you are totally mistaken as to why we "constantly enjoy showing off our religion"
We are called Christians for the simple reason that we follow Christ, our Redeemer. And therefore, we, as Christians have an obligation to convey His word to one and all.
J Martinelli
Mar 5th 2009, 13:49
Ramon Casha
If, hypothetically and in fun, someone ridicules your mother, would you just sit there and grin?
We pray to God and address Him as "Our Father" and respect our Church by referring to it as "Our Mother Church".
Truth is, that when we (you and I) die, our Obit will read something like "... comforted by the rites of our Holy Church..." How hypocritical in many cases!
Kapish?
Robert Attard
Mar 5th 2009, 13:42
You christians constantly enjoy showing off your religion, trying hard to shove it down our throats! but still you find it hard to accept some 'well earned ridicule'. What did you expect? Did you really think that you could come up with something like the virgin birth without expecting a chuckle in the back row?
Ramon Casha
Mar 5th 2009, 12:24
Just go to the Rabat carnival.
Don't go swimming if you hate the water.