The true colours of the flag of Malta

It is so satisfying to read letters such as the recent contributions by Victor Laviera and Paul Calleja. Yes, this cause is gaining momentum. There will always be people like that guy of the City of London who think otherwise. I don't blame them for being "conditioned" and they have my respect.

Many times I am dubbed as "the man before my time" as many of the people I meet are convinced that one day the Maltese will come to their senses and fully understand how insulting it is to have a reminder of a foreign person on our flag. The argument most people make is that there still are a few people among us with a servile mentality, who, for some strange reason, advocate imperialism. So in the view of the many people I meet, the George Cross will be removed in years to come.

I remind the readers that King George VI had instituted that cross in his name and had emulated what Queen Victoria did before his time. She had instituted the Victoria Cross and used to present it to soldiers for outstanding heroism.

It all boils down to imperialistic idealism with the premise that one should feel privileged that the queen or the king bestows such an honour.... Big deal! That is another reason why I cannot accept any type of monarchy. Why should the king's or queen's family and their descendants have access to so much wealth and a luxurious life when the people have no say in their election to power or their removal? Power should come from beneath and not the other way around.

As the name clearly states, the George Cross refers to the cross of King George the VI. Now if that is not a reminder of a foreign person on our flag, I don't know what is! What right did Governor John Gort have to decide on his own to put that blessed emblem on our flag? Where were the Maltese? Are we to remain so passive and submissive? Do we really think that our friendship with the British will decrease if we remove that cross? Is our friendship so flimsy?

Much has been said lately about replacing the present cross (the sooner it is removed, the better) with the eight-pointed cross or the Christian cross or with an image of the Neolithic temples. Personally, I would leave the flag in its purity. As our national poet so rightly stated: "Il-bandiera bajda u hamra", the "red and white flag" That is how it should once again become...

The flag should be untarnished and free from reminders of past foreign rule and oppression. It is then, and only then, that I will be proud of our Maltese flag.