Thursday, 30th July 2009
Why not the Neolithic temples on the flag?
There has been much correspondence about our flag. I have written several times concerning the colour of the flag. While Paul Calleja's letter (July 15) is very interesting, I must point out that the red and white flag does not exist. (I have searched through many reference books on flags and so far have not found one.)
By convention, the colour nearest the staff is mentioned first, so our flag is white and red. This is the colour of the flag that flies from the standard at the entrance to Mdina. In order that there is no confusion, it is necessary to make an addition to the flag.
The George Cross serves this purpose. If it is removed, then something else must take its place. The "Maltese" Cross is not an ideal replacement as it is the symbol of foreign rule. (Like the GC) and is in fact part of the coat of arms of Amalfi, in Italy. It was adopted by the knights in gratitude for monies supplied by the merchants of that city for a hospital in the Holy Land.
Both the above-mentioned regimes represent only a few years of our history and are not Maltese. Let us have a real Maltese emblem, one that is unique and over 5,000 years old, namely, the Neolithic temples. We already use this on our euros.
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The GC was added to the Maltese flag during the war following a resolution of the elected members in the Council of Government. This can easily be checked in the printed proccedings of the Council of Government. The colonial power did not impose the GC on Malta's flag. Why dont we leave it at that?
Of all the people who have written for or against the GC, William P Flynn is by far the most articulate in making his case for calling a referendum. His postings are always well researched in presenting historic facts, in his dedicated campaign to restore Malta’s traditional colors, as befits the oldest acknowledged flag in human history. Why a treasure of such irreplaceable magnitude should be allowed to make way for a modern version of dubious merit challenges rationality.
You hit the nail on the head! A perfect letter. That is what the GC is testimony to and credit to you for speaking out.
@William Flynn
SO are you Maltese of Irish descent?
Joseph Aquilina. Ontario, CANADA
Now imagine you are seeing a British foreigner with our traditional flag on a table and he takes a can of paint and starts putting graffiti on our 900 year old White and Red Flag.
Your words are probably spot on what every Maltese would say:
"I think the Maltese flag has a history of its own to tell and thus it should remain as it is".
(Some would be forgiven for indicating to him to where he should stick his brush).
You have just made the argument to remove the GC from the Flag. Please stay with it and tell your friends.
@KarlAxisa
Welcome to the debate. Yes I'm certainly Maltese. It is young people like you that I believe it is my civic duty to convince to get together and restore our ancient Flag.
The oldest Flag in the world is reputed to be that of Denmark going back to the 13th century.
Well our White and Red tradition is older than that(1091). Or was; until an Englishman(in1942) decided to paint a medal on it-against protocol,the law,the GCwarrants and wishes of his own king.
Look at past letters in The Times. Support your True Flag.
Judging by many of the comments made whenever this same dispute erupts, the best symbol to substitute the George Cross would be a big bunch of sour grapes.
the hole could also double as a pothole!!
Yes, let's also put in some prickly pears and a dghajsa....... Oh hang on, I think I'm having a deja vu! LOL
I am sorry but I beg to differ with those who state that WW2 was not Malta's war. Survival was the game. Malta was sandwitched between two opposing forces. One way or the other our island was bound to end up under foreign rule. The British ensign with all the criticism there is to throw at, later on ceded independence (for better or worse ) to these rocks. As to the swastika, well I have my doubts whether this would have been achievable. As things turned out we are here bickering on a medal that was handed to defenders of the islands well before I was here. Through this short film that was shown to the rest of the world, there is the opinion of a foreigner on the medal. Through out the film there is only but praise for our elders. Yes I want the GC on the flag.
@Mr. W.P. Flynn for curiosities sake (for my own general knowledge that is nothing more nothing less)...are you Maltese?
Thanks for the suggestion, but I am afraid using Neolithic Temples on our flag may infringe the copyright of a television cartoon series called 'The Flintstones'
As far as I know the council you mention was made up of some 4 members appointed by the British Governor when Malta did not have a government after Mintoff resigned in 1958 and Borg Olivier did not want to be a puppet in the British Government's hands. If I remember correctly the council was very short lived and its members were called and considered as traitors and puppets by all sides of the political spectrum. The gorg cross was imposed upon us to be shown on the flag by the Colonial Office of the British Governemnt in 1964 when we got our Independence.
1. A No-Parking Sign
2. A residents-only parking sign (Ha!)
3. A tiny boat....preseumably coming from Africa....
4. A fireworks design....
5. A roofless theatre...(this is getting too much!)
6.A book...perhaps when our kids draw the flag they might get to love reading, 'cos the level of illiteracy and ignorance is getting dangerously high...
I think you're right.
If we want to make Malta any better, the cross (or lack of it) won't make much difference.
It's our mentality that needs to change!
Well said.
When someone is awarded a medal, it is normal for this to be displayed on one's chest and not hidden in some mouldy old drawer to be forgotten. We are either proud of this well-earned symbol of great courage or we just send it back to the Queen of England and forget all about it. Removing the GC from our flag would be, in my opinion a great show of disrespect to all the Maltese (our parents and grand parents) who suffered death, injury, hunger and great mental stress between 1939 and 1946 so that we, today, will not be forced to wear a swastika on our sleeve.
This cross was put on our flag by the same people who suffered the Nazi onslaught. Ask the surviving octo-and-nonagenarians who served in the armed forces or worked in the docks etc, if they are proud of this symbol.
It's just a flag for God's sake. I don't think that changing it will bring more tourists or investment to Malta, or increase the quality of living! Neither will it solve our problems.
I thought people had better things to do and think about ... no wonder the national productivity is going down!
A star nicked off the EU flag
A dog (Malta's fame in the treatment of animals comes second to none)
A bulldozer
A Shotgun
The international 'Female' Sign - given our notoriety for domestic violence (and women's tough task to make a career)
Any more ideas?
We are failing to identify ourselves with the flag as it is (with the GC) while others believe that a flag without GC is missing something.
Mr. Nigel Lawrence is right, - imagine the Brits putting the Stonehenge on their flag.
Why don't we consider putting the Coat-of-Arms of the Malta Republic instead - bang in the middle of the flag, just like the old italian flag?
That's something that's truly ours.
Of course, both political sides must agree to stick to the same coat-of-arms...unless we want to change the national flag with every change in Govt!!
Who were these Maltese members of the Council of Government? What year was it?
Some Maltese seem to have caught the graffiti disease; they see a white space they have this driving desire to paint something on it.
Our Maltese predecessors had brushes and pencils; but for 900 years they left the Flag pure and pristine. We should take a page from their book.
It is interesting to note that BOTH major political parties in Malta show the traditional Maltese Flag as it should be, that is, just the White and Red, with no 'decorations'. Currently there is also some kind of national song competition ( organised, I believe, by one of the parties?) being advertised on TV; on the logo are shown the National Colours. Here again, just the White and the Red.
Our flag, set out in the Constitution and supported by centuries of tradition, does not need any 'frills' or 'decorations'. No crosses, no temples, no prickly pears - plain White and Red will do nicely.
"I wonder if Stephen Spielberg KBE is as disgusted by his honorary knighthood being forced upon him by some repressive colonialist?"
The GC on our flag is equivalent to Stephen Speilberg putting his KBE on his family name coat of arms ... a very stupid idea! We are not disgusted that we were awarded the GC ... NO ONE is saying that. If you think so then you are simply not understanding the arguments against the GC on our flag.
I like the idea of the Neolithic temples. They are something truly unique and special to this island and it would make sense to put them on our flag.
A very interesting proposal and also re the Maltese cross!