Monday, 30th November 2009 - 08:00CET
EU Representation explains George Cross mistake
Updated 4.40 p.m.
The EU Representative Office in Malta has issued an explanation after small Maltese flags handed out at a public event at City Gate did not feature the George Cross but the eight-pointed Maltese cross superimposed on a George Cross outline.
The small plastic flags were being handed out as part of a road show on citizens' rights, called "European citizenship: not just words, but also concrete rights!", organised by the European Commission in Malta. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said was present for the launch.
The European Commission Representation in a comment sent to timesofmalta.com explained that the activity was part of a series of events organised in various member states, directly by DG Justice, Liberty and Security (DG JLS) – European Commission.
"For all the events DG JLS had one contractor, obviously not Maltese, responsible for the printing of material to be handed out in the stand," the Representation said.
"When the mistake in the flag was noticed, the giveaway flags were removed. The Representation in Malta informed the organising Directorate General directly of the mistake in the material that was handed out so that they can deal directly with the contractor. Neither the European Commission Representation in Malta nor the Office of the Prime Minister were involved in the contracting of this event."
"The Commission was in no way trying to insult the Maltese flag and any indignation this incident might have caused is greatly regretted. The organisation of this event had to serve the purpose of informing as many people as possible of their rights as EU citizens something which was still achieved despite the incident," the Representation said.
The information tour will continue today in Rotunda Square, Mosta today and in Victory Square, Vittoriosa tomorrow.
The Constitution specifies that the Maltese flag is white and red, with the George Cross in the top left corner of the white field, near the mast.
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I found this website really interesting with lots of ww2 photos of Malta. You will realise the importance of Malta's George Cross.
http://www.killifish.f9.co.uk/Malta%20WWII/Index.htm
Most likely, the Rev. Dr Michael Foster provides the best answer. (www.orderstjohn.org/osj/cross.htm)
As I understand, the straight geometrical lines are unique and are found only on Malta. The first time they appeared was on the 2 tari and the 4 tari coins. Later they studded just about every facade of the knights' cathedral interior, and were present on every architectural piece belonging to the Order. But only on Malta, and at none of the other places where the knights had been before they set home in Mdina in 1530. The cross, therefore, is Maltese not because it ever belonged to the Maltese people, but because it was adopted only on Malta after a very long passage of evolution seeded by the Greek Cross in the 12th century.
We again try to argue over a topic, in this case the GC and the hatred can clearly be seen .
Do we know what the GC stands for ? Do we realise that until fairly recently when the RUC in Northern Ireland received the GC , Malta was the envy of the whole of the commonwealth for having been awarded this honour for gallantry as a nation rather than any particular individual.
For those of you who are against our colonial past, may I remind you that Britain was asked to come to our island . Those who believe that Malta would not have been occupied had the British not been here during the war must live in cuckoo land.
Also can somebody tell me who decided that the eight pointed cross is actually Maltese ? It is the symbol of the Knights of St John Hospitaliers who were multi national and therefore many others could lay claim to it !!!
Let us respect and be proud of our history and freedom curtosy of the United Kingdom.
Please refer to "STORJA TA' MALTA" Vol.1 of the late Professor Andrew P.Vella. On page 80 he stresses that the popular belief that Count Roger gave us the Maltese flag is just a fable, a tale. What's more, according to the same professor, flags and national standards only appeared many years later. In a note (41) on page 102, T.Baker,"The Normans" (Cassell-London 1966), p.110 says "Heraldry, the adoption of personal and hereditary devices, did not appear for another hundred years...."Just for your information.
That's why an "explanation" is also required from the EU Rep.
Personally, i'm not bothered about an official apology, it makes no difference to me. My concern is that the blame seems to have been placed on the 'contractor' and him/her/the company only.
also, why the flags were still placed on the table and used. If i order something i would make sure i receive what i have ordered. If it is not what i have ordered i would contact the appropiate people. Someone must be on the moon if they havn't realised from before that the flags were incorrect.
Only tradition holds that Count Roger gave Malta its flag, there is no historical proof.
As I commented earlier on, I would expect that President George Abela issues a formal request to the EU Representative in Malta, on behalf of all Maltese people, to provide an explanation and to make an official apology.
@VictorVella
Given a choice I'd go eeny-meeny-miny-mo. They were all bad. The Maltese cop-out is looking for masters who could have been worse; like Monty Python slaves comparing whippings. Things could have been better; but after the war (GC or not) the Brits couldn't care a toss about us.
The British used their knowledge/technology to subdue nations. Compare that to the magnanimity of the USA for example and how they use and share their knowledge/technology.
Yes I do believe in the Holocaust; I have actually met people who survived it.
It is a mistake to believe the Maltese were going to be burned in ovens.
The Maltese students with Italian/Fascist leanings caught in Italy when war broke out voluntarily raised a regiment and sided with Mussolini and weren’t placed in concentration camps.
The Nazis also recruited thousands of Moslems. They had regiments with their own Imams etc. Don't believe war propaganda and anyway the British were willing to give Malta to Mussolini in 1938/9.
Do you realize that more than half of the Anschluss (and most likely half of all the Wehrmacht) were Catholic?
Yet, in Malta ppl still thank the crown for kindly letting us in the empire... piff
Throughout history Malta was always LATIN. Tanx to the english, most of that latin soul was lost.. Morru dellku il-butir fuq il-hobz u hudu it-te' bil-halib tal-bott.. ax hekk ghallmukom dawk from the land of vindaloo
The British legacy is part of our culture and there is no doubt that Malta did benefit from the British era. The English language and certain customs have benefited us, and allowed strong social, business and cultural bonds between Malta and other Commonwealth countries, which I hope will continue in the future.
This GC on the Maltese flag is another matter altogether. It was given to Malta by the King (thank you your Majesty) but then pinned on to the Maltese flag without consulting the Maltese people. We have never been given the opportunity to ratify or revoke the British governor’s decision. In my opinion we should be given that opportunity.
Regarding punishment, i would think a lawful punishment is too serious, but its a shame no one can admit to the error and the 'one contractor' is the only one responsbile/ being blammed.
If it wasn't for the unselfish bravery of the Brits, and other members of the British Empire, such as the Australians, New Zealanders, and Canadians, the cross on the little known White and red flag might now be the Iron cross.
Now, about the George Cross, which I believe was awarded with thanks and kindness to Malta for her endurance… during WWII and not the contrary.
The ancient Semitic Arabic and Italian which constitutes much of the Maltese language were forced upon us by conquering empires in times gone by, should we get ride of that too?
Oh and we must not forget the city of M,dina, because it looks mighty un-Maltese, but considerably Islamic to me.
Oh and Speaking of Yanks, in America the symbol of the Maltese cross is synonymous with outlaw gangs, bikers, choppers, and the whole hot rod industry, for the past fifty years.
See for your selves on the internet.
The bottom line is a simple mistake was made. No body was injured, show some compassion, understanding, humour, and good old Maltese friendliness, or is that foreign too?
According to an official publication commemorating the 25th anniversary of Dun Karm's demise ,penned by Guze' Cardona ( Dun Karm's biographer ), Dun Gwann Azzopardi and Frans Sammut, page 23,...."Bhalma l-qawwa ta' kliem Churchill tat sahha morali lid-Dinja Demokratika, hekk ukoll is-sunetti tal-Gwerra ta' Dun Karm taw kuragg lill-poplu Malti. Ezempju ta' dawn huma LIL-MALTA (wara elfejn attakk mill-ajru) u LILL-BANDIERA MALTIJA...."
Turning to the "Prophetic" Dun Karm.... What are we "bickering" about ?. The removal or otherwise of the GC from the Maltese Flag !!. And this after all these years !.And he warned everybody in the last line of the poem..."...Imbagh'd...ma jiswa xejn tibki l-warrani." !!! And that's what we're doing. More prophetic than that one cannot be. Still, you can stick to your guns and I'll stick to mine. After all we are all supposed to be free thinking persons.
Please answer the folowing.
In days where all countries without military power were colonised by countries with military power, Under which nation would you have chosen to live?
Italy, France,Holland,or Germany.
Take a Look at Libya, Tunia,South Africa, and well We hope you believe in the holocaust.
Please. Who was the "British Governor" after independence?
Please think this GC thing through. When you believe it you will see it. The GC medal originated in1942. Our White and Red is the oldest National Flag in the world. It got us together to Freedom's Gate and she still waits outside while we honour The Painted One.
This isn't about the GC Medal but where it was painted and by whom and for whose glory.
My history compels me to give credit to the British for one thing - their leaving.
The cruiser in Msida wasn't the Firth of Forth but HMS Forth. It berthed next to my father's ship the Fort Duquesne. As a boy, I used to go past it when my mother and I visited dad on his ship for dinner when he was on duty and couldn’t come home.
He was one of only two Maltese engineer officers on the Fort Duquesne. My father’s cousin was a naval surgeon on HMS Penelope.
My Irish great-grandfather came to Malta on HMS Hibernia which was the USS Nimitz of its time.
But I glorify Maltese Independence and The Republic for while I personally never suffered, the British treated my Maltese brethren very badly and my birth-country even worse. The British empire was a blood-sucking parasite.
@E.Gatt
We who lived under colonialism didn't accept it; but we had to live. It was a long, slow journey to independence my friend. They used to say they’re going to “pull the plug” when they leave and Malta would sink to the bottom of the sea. I heard this said in naval circles on occasions.
But look at your generation and Malta now. The pristine, ancient White and Red united us.
I have recollections of us visiting this territory before.
"Governor Gort never spoke to/consulted any Maltese person whoever about the GC in 1942." I agree. He did the wrong thing.
"The alterations to the blue happened 22 years later after Independence." We still had a British Governor at the time, and he agreed to the change. Surely we should give him credit for that.
"The Maltese didn't object to the GC on the Flag in 1942 for they never saw it. They objected to the GC Medal chanting, "Zommuh il-George Cross; aghtuna il-hobz"." The trouble with this point is that there was no bread to go around. The convoys were still trying to get in. The Brits themselves had not much left either. The pilots at Ta' Qali, for example, were getting skinnier by the day and going through hell.
I can assure you that I am definitely not anti British, feel very much at home when visiting the UK, and enjoy British culture. I am also appalled and concerned about the deteriorating standard of English in Malta.
The economic aim of the Empire was to benefit the colonising power – Britain. Some of the benefits spilt over to the colonies but in imperialism, democracy was never part of the equation. Undemocratic systems are ‘bullying’ by their very nature. Malta had to struggle for self government from the Empire. The brief periods of self government ‘awarded’ by the Empire were stopped at the whims of the unelected governor when the Maltese 'misbehaved' .
The George Cross was pinned on the Maltese flag by an unelected governor, without consulting the people of Malta. It may have been the norm for someone brought up in a colony to accept such decisions. However for someone like me, who was born after Malta gained its independence, such attitudes are undemocratic and therefore ‘bullying’.
Governor Gort never spoke to/consulted any Maltese person whoever about the GC in 1942. The alterations to the blue happened 22 years later after Independence.
The Maltese didn't object to the GC on the Flag in 1942 for they never saw it. They objected to the GC Medal chanting, "Zommuh il-George Cross; aghtuna il-hobz".
@Pat Camilleri
You're not the only one who lost his grandfather during the war. All the war dead would be horrified to see the GC on the Flag for they never knew it. Their Flag was the White and Red. That's the last Flag they saw before they died. That was the Flag of my youth.
@all Maltese
Thanks W.Thornton for the object lesson, to those too young to remember, of what I and Maltese my age had to put up with in colonial times before we kicked them out, for ever; as every other colony did. Think: English soccer hooligans with guns.
The British empire was destroyed totally and quickly after WWII;and they say they won the war(really the USA won). Funny, what would have happened had they lost.
@Ray Gatt
And Gatt is Italian. So whom do you hate? How silly.
You speak of molehills and mountains, Mr de Martino. It is clear that you have nothing constructive to say.
My understanding is that the poem "Il-Bandiera Maltija" was published in 1946. You may want to correct me on the year.
Assuming 1946 was the year of publication. This would mean that Dun Karm would have written the poem much earlier. It is generally agreed among Maltese scholars that Dun Karm reached his peak in the 1930's. For this reason, my guess is that he would have written his verses somewhere during that time. Publication would have come much later. Many poems, in fact, are published even posthumously.
It is also agreed among scholars that "sibbien" refers to the early raiders in Malta's history, and not to the aerial bombers. The colours "blu" (Britain) and "ahdar" (Italy) are not related to prediction but were merely something he wanted Malta to reject and which both were related to the past (for example, his first poems were in Italian). There is, therefore, nothing to indicate that he was predicting that the colours will not change. He was only warning about certain specifics -- British and Italian influences. I have no reason to think that he saw the GC on the flag as a mark of British influence.
Dun Karm wrote thid poem together with others during the war not years before !!. And let me indicate where he was prophetic, and I quote:
Hekk, bajda u hamra biss; kull lewn barrani,
Li jithallat ma' lwienek, ikun blu,
Jew ikun ahdar, ihassarlek ismek,
Surely here he is referring to the British (Blu) and Italian(ahdar). While referring to colours he was referring to asnything that had to do with the two warring nations .So ?
People have been reading the "volumi" here all along. Have you got a constructive opinion of your own to give?
I’m afraid that your imperialist views are well past their sell-by-date and not appreciated by the vast majority of Maltese. Admittedly there are some Maltese who are still conditioned by the idea of Malta being British colony but these are few, far between and on the wane. I also believe that your condescending views of Malta are not representative of the British people.
Malta has and will continue to have a strong relationship with Britain, especially on a people level. The bullying attitude of imperialism, led to a strong movement for independence, which was acquired in 1964 through hard bargaining whilst keeping a friendly relationship between the two countries. Now both counties are equal partners in the European Union.
Malta was re-christened Malta GC – but that never caught on. Removing the George cross should not be seen as rejecting the medal or worse still, as a form of Brit-bashing. Try and see it from a Maltese perspective and then answer the question: if Malta bestows its highest award on the people of Britain, would you be pleased to pin this to the Union Jack? Hardly I'm sure.
@ William P Flynn -- The Order never awarded anything to the Maltese. Even if they had left the islands, their wealth was to be bequeathed to the Church. This is the reason why the Church "xewxet" the Maltese to expel the Order. Little they had anticipated that Vaubois would later cede everything to the public; a state of affairs to which the Protestant British Administration gladly obliged.
Why the third option? The Maltese already "voted on the third question. They had 270 years to inset the Knight's (Maltese) Cross on the ancient White and Red; they didn't.
Let's keep asking for that referendum even though none is required. Just a vote in parliament is all it takes and some political courage from our elected representatives. Big ask?
No, I'm Japanese born in India of Mongolian parents…. Of course I'm Maltese and it's my flag just as much as it is yours; and it is an issue to me and many others. No one is asking your permission or your conclusion.
Surely you can make a distinction between a medal and a flag?
@G.Azzoppardi
Stick to the subject, one flag at a time; we’re talking about the Maltese Flag. Look up “restore” in the dictionary.
@ others
Yes we suffered during the war; I was born in the war. How does that mean we had to be rewarded by some Englishman ruining and defacing our White and Red, the oldest Flag in the world? No Maltese ever voted for the GC to go on the Flag.
Yes, Count Roger gave us the Flag and he was a foreigner and our ancestors honoured it and kept it pristine for 900 years. What right did the English Colonialist foreigner governor Lord Gort have to deface it without asking one single solitary Maltese person's permission?
What happened the other day was an error or negligence. What Lord Gort did was deliberate, unauthorised and sacrilegious.
Please, fellow Maltese, think this through.
@ Mr. Flynn - that Irish isn't it? No surprises here why you hate the British so much.
Hekk, bajda u ħamra biss, irridek jiena,
Bandiera ħelwa ta' din l-art ħanina,
Għax kull meta s-sibbien ħabtu għalina
Hekk, bajda u ħamra biss, rawk il-ħajjiena. (Dun Karm)
He is referring to the past, and not to what may yet come. WWII was still some 10 years away. When the next "sibbien" (Italians and Germans) struck, the colours seen by "il-hajjiena" were still the same. One of these "hajjiena" was Dun Karm himself who saw the colours change but did not object.
How about holding a referendum to decide the issue?
a) Do you agree on keeping the George Cross on the Maltese Flag?
b) Do you agree on removing the George Cross from the Maltese Flag?
c) Do you agree on replacing the George Cross on the Maltese Flag with the Maltese Cross?
The issue here is this offense that the EU Rep Office is not familiar with our flag, the Maltese Flag, an EU Member State. Shame.
With all due respect but the George Cross is a recognition to all those who died and suffered in Malta. Remember Malta survived heavier bombing than London and Coventry.
If we remove the George Cross we should remove
1. our language which has a basis of Phoenician & Arabic
2. feasts as they are influenced by Italian traditions
3. our laws are influnced by English laws.
If we remove the George cross because it was given to us by foreigners we should remove whatever we are because essentially we are a mixture of all the people who have conquered us. True if the British were here we might not had war here but the Allies would have lost the war in Africa and that means that the Nazis would have won the WWII.
So please let us stop these ideas that some people have against the GC just because some hate the British. I am not proud of what the British did here but at least I am proud at what the Maltese did under the British. AND THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THE GC.
The British Empire just did what the Spanish Empire did before it and the USA does today..That is policing the world. Where is your pride? Only countries like Nigeria and India still think they were lucky to be trampled by the English. I went to a graduation last week and the Orations were in English... so much for your beloved Maltese Language...
@ Raymond Sammut
The eight pointed cross originated in Amalfi (11th century Salerno, Campania). Imbasta inparlaw ras....
The GC on the flag is a shame on our whole country. As someone said I would prefer the Mambra monument than it...
Dun Karm was disgusted by the Maltese colonial attitudes,Pro British, Pro Italian and never Pro Maltese. Let us not forget whole legislatures wasted by our illustrious representatives discussing the Language problem (!!) at the expence of the real problems facing the people. Today, with hindsight, I appreciate more the prophetic Dun Karm as he foresaw a British or Italian "blot" on our colours, as in fact happened with the inclusion of the GC on our Flag !!.
With regards to the GC. Yes, for our forefathers' bravery and for the moral, material and psychological losses, among others, Malta received the George Cross and a couple of hundred thousand sterling as compensation for the damages !!. The perpetrators of all the destruction Malta suffered during the war, were rewarded with bilions of Marshall Aid Dollars, making them three of the top eight economies in the world. They still are. Unfortunately we still harness a colonial mentality.
A slight correction of your wording is needed. We never served the British. Servitude implies slavery! May you be reminded that amongst the many artifacts on this subject left by our fathers there is the monument in the Lower Baraka Gardens which is there to remind the Maltese that it was us who chose to join forces with Great Britain following our victory against the French, and moreover its states that all Maltese must never forget they are no subordinate of Great Britain! Besides Malta is the only country in the world to have recieved an honour bestowed upon an entire nation, this makes our flag unique! We realy have to learn to accept the past, our past with its good and bad and we should be proud for it has given our little islands their identity which by far out does their size! Lets end this constant urge to rid our country of all reminders of the British Empire. We need to learn from the past and focus on more important things! Here I must say that indeed it is an ebaressing event to issue flags which do not display the correct emblems.
The flag is sacred. And the contractor should pay for damages, or didn;t you make a relevant clause in the awarding contract?
Edward Demicoli
This is nothing less than a diplomatic insult to Malta and the Maltese citizens.
The eu should have checked the flags before to make sure that there was no mistake.
That is how much the eu petty dictators have Malta and the Maltese citizens to their heart.
"The Commission was in no way trying to insult the Maltese flag and any indignation this incident might have caused is greatly regretted. The organisation of this event had to serve the purpose of informing as many people as possible of their rights as EU citizens something which was still achieved despite the incident," the Representation said."
How about informing the Maltese citizens that they are going to pay €182,192 EVERY DAY as ordered by the eu petty dictators apart from all customs duties and levies while we pay the customs officers to collect them, a share from VAT and other payments that they have to make?
no cross at all on our flag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_George_Cross_recipients
we are the only country to be given this medal....should we feel honoured or else insulted that we have the same value of just ONE BRITISH SOLDIER?.....
delivering the flags to City Gate? Or were they delivered to City Gate by the Contractor (obviously not Maltese) himself??! Who are they trying to fool? Do they think we are that stupid? We are not expecting the EU representation to be fully aware of our constitution but not being familiar with an EU Nation's flag is a total shame and only shows what
kind of personnel such representations employ.
I'm 75 years old and during the war ,although very young , I was in a far better position than yourself and other's to notice the daily life of MALTESE personel who where called by force
to serve as soldiers.
Never seen or noticed any one fighting the German's / Italian's forces. Both bombed MALTA from air.. Only the few that survived from shot down aircraft that landed on our soil.
The MALTESE suffered a lot from short of commodities, the demolishing of homes, from SKEJBIL ,but not fighting any german.
The george cross was printed on our WHITE/RED FLAG a waterwash in lieu of funds due for damages suffered by the MALTESE.
Hope you remember the two shilling sixpence a month awarded to widows with children who lost their husband while serving the british forces.
By the way, here we are speaking about a mistake...well the important that they retreat the flags and ordered new once....with tis mistake we showed that we love our flag...good thing to see...lets hope to learn loving our heritage now....still illegal dump sites can be found in the country side...what a pity
Govenrment of Malta should lodge a process verbal to the European Commission protesting with determination that such a gaffe should not have occured. Had the organisers looked at the Constitution of Malta or some other source they would have displayed better our national flag at this event.
Once again I wish to state that whoever is responsible should see to the logistics of at official functions.
It is also observed that manufacturers of the National Flag fail miserably because they do not even know how the George Cross should be displayed on the white half of the flag.
Restore our flag? Restor to what? According to whom?
We love our flag as is thank you very much. Your comments about OUR flag, are but whiff in the wilderness.
But of course you have every right to complain about the Union flag you have on your Australian one. Now that's a cherry isnt it mate?
The George Cross is a recognition earned by the NATION for the courage shown by the NATION under the most dire of circumstances. Its place is on the NATION's flag to remind us all of what we as a NATION are capable of.
The Order's Cross is part of our culture and heritage and is the quintessential emblem of all that is Maltese, but it is not something that we as Maltese have earned, but is rather the sign of a 400 year rule by a foreign ruler - irrespective of the tremendous (beneficial) impact it has had on our life, culture and heritage..
Although it appears to be a case ofa geniune mistake, it is so crass that I believe that a press statemtn is not enough. Maybe the flags were made in China where everything is a poor imitation of the original.
This is just not good enough. The European Commission, through its representative on Malta, owes an official apology both to the President of Malta and to the Maltese people worldwide. Simply "regretting" is adding insult to injury.
Rest assured that after reading your comment, many including Shakespeare if he were alive, would have mourned the fall of the British Empire.
What's the bet that who's ever "responsible" is a University of Malta graduate?....at the first attempt
When the mistake in the flag was noticed, the giveaway flags were removed. The Representation in Malta informed the organising Directorate General directly of the mistake in the material that was handed out so that they can deal directly with the contractor. Neither the European Commission Representation in Malta nor the Office of the Prime Minister were involved in the contracting of this event.
I hope the above serves to clarify the incident. The Commission was in no way trying to insult the Maltese flag and any indignation this incident might have caused is greatly regretted. The organisation of this event had to serve the purpose of informing as many people as possible of their rights as EU citizens something which was still achieved despite the incident.
Edward Demicoli
Press Officer - European Commission Representation
Where are the ministerial and Parliamentary secretariat staff really are, if ever they do exists.
Such people never learn that staff in the communications section of a secretariat should visit the site or place prior of official function where the Prime Minister, a Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary. are to attend such functions.
Their absolute duty is to see the setting prior to the respective official function is all set with the least detail for the event.and see that all is set and inaccordance to the official protocol.
I cannot understand how the Hon Chris Said did not leave the place until the flags were removed from the Stands. In that way he would have shown his disapproval that Malta deserves better treatment especially from the of European representative in Malta.
Time and again such things do occur as what appeared on the arrival of King Juan Carlos landing in Malta. The Cockpit crew displayed the National flag with the wrong end on the mast. I have to say that Official protocol leaves much to be desired vis-a-vis our country locally and abroad.
I y urge the MFA Protocol to see that such pitfalls do not occur in future
The British presense in Malta was not just in WW2.They were here almost 150 years before that.They ruled the whole mediterraneanea to our advantage as they stopped all piracy and slavery making it possible for the Maltese to live safely in coastal villages without fear of being kidnapped which was the norm before the British put a stop to it.
The Maltese played a full part in the Empire taking up positions in the armed forces and civilian posts around the world.Thousands emigrated and thrived in their new surroundings living safely and comforably under empire rule.The British Empire was the greatest form of good since The Christ and anyone with a knowledge of history and current affairs will mourn at its passing.
Those are typing mistakes (three in all), u tippruvax iddaħħak dwar il-verita'.
Dear John, before you post such comments... PLEASE PLEASE and PRETTY PLEASE check your own spelling!!!
cos you fall for the jokes siehbi!
@ J Baldacchino
well said. Mediocrity, although being slowly curbed, unfortunately still plays quite a role in Maltese society. However, I have seen an improvement over the past few years :)
Replacing the George Cross with the Maltese Cross should not be seen as an anti-British move but an expression of our nationality. It should also not be seen as a rejection of the medal or British legacy, but simply the reversal of an almost unknown governor’s decision who decided to pin it to the Maltese flag, without consulting the Maltese people.
True, the eight-pointed cross did not originate in Malta, but through the centuries has come to be known as the ‘Maltese Cross’. It is depicted everywhere from lace tablecloths, humble buildings and palaces, and business and cultural logos. When the general public was recently asked for a national symbol for the Euro coins, the Maltese Cross received the widest support. If I am not mistaken the GC did not feature at all.
are you saying.... George Cross (Birtish, foreign, bad) no and the Maltese Cross (Knights foreign, good) yes ? please explain your logic !
@Mr Cortis if I remember correctly Dun Karm Psaila's poem was written before World War 2 and he was happy to accept an Order of the British Empire from the Queen in 1957... can you show me where he was objecting to the George Cross itself rather than objecting to flying foreign flags over our country ?
My grandparents were proud to have earned the George Cross and to have played a part in the fight against Fascism and Nazism. It was was a struggle worth joining and the cross shall bear witness to our courage. Stop indulging in out-dated colonialist posturing and let's get on with the real problems in our country ....
If I am not mistaken, "Il-Bandiera Maltija" was written way before WWII. We cannot tell, therefore, how Dun Karm's muse would have been affected retrospectively by the war trauma in regard to the colours of the national flag. Dun Karm passed away well after the war, and so far as I know he never expressed, at least not publicly, any objections. And BTW, thoughts are never expressed "bluntly" in a poem -- at least not Dun Karm.
we should obliterate it form our dear flag, not fight over its correct depiction.
There is nothing "latin" about the eight-pointed cross. In fact, one of the points originated from the English langue.
"organised by the European Commission in Malta" - neither Chris Said nor the Prime MInister nor the government and even less the PN were the organisers! Chris Said was a guest int he opening ceremony.
Insinuations are just that insinuations! I could insinuate that it is some anit EU mole within the Maltese section dealing with the EU that did this on purpose, but I would just be insinuating as I have no proof. So just stop makinga fool of yourselves!
I wonder what salary does the IDIOT who was responsible to order these flags, gets!!!
Very Typical of giving jobs to the blue eyed boys.
OFF with that english symbol and put a good latin eight pointed one
An army of Maltese organizers in such a gaffe deseves some
Agree with you.
However, this is a great shame and shows what respect they have for our flag and country. Shame and shame again.
This could be the result of any combination of factors - no checking before confirmation of order, irresponsible people tasked with a job they have no idea about, ignorant staff responsible with the putting of these flags on display not noticing the mistake. Or perhaps it may have been sheer negligence.
Still shows that the levels of stupidity and carelessness in this country is reaching record levels.
The Maltese Cross is one of the few symbols that most of us associate with our country.
Whoever thought of this should respond to his actions. Hopefully this was a genuine error and not someone messing up with our flag, enshrined in our Constitution.