'I am an atheist but Dom Mintoff is my god'

Joe Xuereb

Feb 13th, 15:07

In Maltese we say, ma trid tagħmel lil ħadd b'Alla tiegħek (never put anyone on a pedestal). So, anyone saying that they are a non-believer and that to them, Mintoff is god, should be seen in this context. In other words, hold your horses.

I remember as a child hearing people say that, in a way, Christ was a Communist. Of course at the time nothing could be lower than Communism and I also remember being told that if coerced into a Communist belief by a Commie, I was to prefer death by martyrdom. So, this comparison of my Saviour with Communism was baffling at least. I am older now and I have learned to understand a few things. As Kevin Zammit says, Communism/Socialism is about levelling the social classes and that which could be given freely, was. Unfortunately, Russia is a vast country with many different peoples, different cultures, different religions. And often the harvest failed. The people knew (or guessed) that in the West one did not have to queue for bread, etc. Many were unhappy as a result. Freedom of movement was restricted as the Socialist experiment depended on the countries population. Hence the many subsequent defections.
If people excelled, if they officially belonged to the Party, they were rewarded. Many became dissidents and were punished. And the biggest punishment of all was the enforced deprivation of the people's religion. The idea was that one worked and lived and married and had children and all for the sake of the Motherland. No afterlife nonsense. A tough life no doubt but real. But many were unhappy and worshipped underground. They knew the West was Capitalist, people could go to church and pray, and live freely, and go on holidays, and spend, spend, spend with no queue in sight. And Capitalism worked. Didn't it?!

The religious aspect of Communism is very interesting, and very important to understand. It proves if proof were needed that People need to hold onto something that is rewarding beyond one's wildest dreams; because life is so goddamn awful to bear. So Religion was invented. Take away this hop from people and they will be, variously, rebellious or unhappy. When the doors were opened at last, many Russian Jews left and went, no not to America, but to their Promised Land. Sadly, the sudden hefty influx created a problem among the Jews already settled in Israel and life was made difficult for them.
The gist of all this is, I repeat, that faith is important for people. But that is all it is, faith.
Of course Mintoff flirted with Socialism and the Establishment were quick to undermine his credibility for this reason among others. The man was a flirt. Naturally, he wanted Integration with .Britain and thank god, this never materialised. Out of pique, he courted Gaddafi and the rest is history. He was a man of the people, for the people. Now, and even more so at the time, to be a lawrjat (lawyer, doctor) in Malta was to be a god. And the common people loved him for this alone if nothing else. He was their god, their saviour. For sure, he made many positive reforms. But he was/is a politician first and foremost, and, common amongst those who reach out to the people, the underdog, he was no stranger to feelings of grandeur. Some of his building projects, for instance, remind me of Romania's Ceausescu. For first and foremost,to himself and his people, he was il-Perit. On a pedestal. Nay, a plinth, all gold leaf and wonderful and very Maltese.
PS I do not know about 'socialism/welfare' in Malta, and UK, and the corrupt West generally but from what I know, unemployment in Russia was practically unknown. That was the whole point. Everybody working for the good of the community. Meaning, a decent basic living but no luxuries. Unless one was exceptionally gifted in which case one was rewarded.

And please, before you shoot the messenger, of course the Socialist experiment was open to corruption. Just like here..

Mr Kevin Zammit

Feb 12th, 12:51

to those that are saying socialism=laziness

Well then:

1. A socialist state is one in which most essential services are provided through redistribution of tax money. Mainly health, education and work/life insurance. These were especially introduced and/or reinforced by Mintoff I dont see the nationalist party government reducing these any time soon so who is the socialist and who is the conservative on this Island then?

2. The Nationalist party derives its roots from gaining for Malta independence from our former colonial masters the English and instead putting us under our former cultural connection Italy. In itself not a bad thing. Mintoff was actually pro British. Since WWII made it politically incorrect to speak of Italy in any good terms back then the Nationalist party took on the natural path of creating a Malta of Church God and Country. Doubtful how much pride there is in the Semitic speaking populace but that is my personal opinion. Therefore considering that the church stands for equality for all humans, redistribution of wealth, helping the sick old and inferm ... again I ask. Who is the one that actually supports a socialist system of government?

3. Socialism actually aims at evening the playing field giving all an opportunity to succeed materially should they wish to, irrespective of creed, race, religious or political beliefs. These were ideals as set out by the Fabian society members being none other than the likes of including George Bernard Shaw, H. G. Wells, Annie Besant, Graham Wallas, Hubert Bland, Edith Nesbit, Sydney Olivier, Oliver Lodge, Leonard Woolf and Virginia Woolf, Ramsay MacDonald and Emmeline Pankhurst. E - wikipedia from which I quote:

They favoured a national minimum wage in order to stop British industries compensating for their inefficiency by lowering wages instead of investing in capital equipment; slum clearances and a health service in order for "the breeding of even a moderately Imperial race" which would be more productive and better militarily than the "stunted, anaemic, demoralised denizens...of our great cities"; and a national education system because "it is in the classrooms...that the future battles of the Empire for commercial prosperity are already being lost"

I leave the rest for you to ponder then what actually made one of the most powerful empires the world had ever seen considering the size of the country.

Jp Bartolo snr.

Jan 25th 2010, 19:42

Long live Dom Mintoff at least we got rid of all the British forces off this island. permanently. so yes he is a God to me, at least.

Charles Said-vassallo

Jan 25th 2010, 09:56

Lets remember that for Mintoff to give free this or that, he had to steal it from somewhere else !!
The Grand theft of National Bank of Malta !! a prime example to suddenly pay for his so-called promises... Let me also note, that some of us descendants of shareholders are still waiting for compensation !!!!!!
Read further here: --> http://www.nbomalta.com/

Guze Xerri

Jan 24th 2010, 21:56

Joseph Howard was my favorite prime minister but alas he has not a god.
Poor Joe.

Alexander Morana

Jan 24th 2010, 21:14

If Dr Zammit is an atheist, and Dom Mintoff was a god to him than Jesus waking Lazarus from the dead must have been real.

Paul Caruana

Jan 24th 2010, 18:17

Should we laugh or cry?

r curmi

Jan 24th 2010, 17:33

To threat one as your mentor, teacher, boss whatever its ok but God!!!!!????

Robert Mifsud

Jan 24th 2010, 17:17

This is a case of total contradiction.Mr Xuereb you cannot be an atheist and believe in someone at the same time.Kif tista timxi Malta b^dawn in nies madwarna !

J Abela

Jan 24th 2010, 15:06

I agree totally Mr. Bonnici! Socialism = Laziness

Dr. John Zammit

Jan 24th 2010, 14:47

More information about the Front Favur Dom Mintoff can be seen on www.freewebs.com/mintoffjani - Dom Mintoff - Malta's greatest leader.

Peter Bonnici

Jan 24th 2010, 13:13

Gregory Apap Bologna, thats socialism for you. Making people lazy and dependent on the state. I pity this poor, man-god worshipping atheist.

Oscar Cassar

Jan 24th 2010, 13:08

Front Favur Dom Mintoff in 2010 ? Dom Mintoff speeches, particularly those during the ‘Interdett’ period, can still be considered as examples of ‘local’ progressive politics… ironically more then the speeches (containing only buzzwords) of Joseph Muscat nowadays. But whatever is said and written, Mintoff’s era was OVER after 1979 and to establish a ‘Front Favur Dom Mintoff’ in 2010… that is pathetic.

G. AB

Jan 24th 2010, 11:52

mintoff a god??

the guy who made all services FREE encouraging his followers to live in a pathetic state of ignorance where they are encouraged to go to the kazin and just laze about knowing education is free.. if they get cancer from all the booze and cigarettes they consume health care is free... thats why hes a god for some people... He'd give you the fish.. but not the fishing rod...