Dunstan Crockford, St Julians
An indecent attitude
The other day I witnessed a modern form of "lynching". A young foreign student was wearing a bikini in Balluta Square. At first nobody said or did anything but as she decided to leave and was walking down the few steps to the pavement, a mature woman loudly screamed and ran towards her.
This attitude sparked off a crowd of around 10 persons all howling names at the bewildered girl: "dirty", "go home", "shame", "get dressed". One even threatened to throw her in the sea! At this point the foreign girl was joined by her friends and plucked up some courage. She crossed the road and took photos of the hostile crowd. Naturally this provoked more insults.
In no way am I condoning the girl's attire but surely there are decent ways to approach situations like these!
77 Comments
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Joseph MELI
Aug 2nd 2010, 16:21
@Chris Mifsud::You stated "We need a government that makes any practice of the catholic religion and its teachings illegal." Very bad idea and wishful thinking too.....May I suggest that you should either go to China or Russia, where religion is performed in the hiding. Sorry NO Place for such a Government in Malta or Goz, as anything that goes against our faith we oppose it.
If you are not a believer, then let us practice our religion and what it's laws permit us to do and what it forbit us to perform.
E Borg
Jul 31st 2010, 19:50
What a joke... Foreigners come to Malta and compare Paceville to Reeperbahn in Hamburg (a red light district) and ask how come so many young girls look like they could be prostitutes, wheras a young student wearing a bikini within walking distance of a beach finds an angry mob...
Michael Spiteri
Jul 30th 2010, 11:48
So, men can go around in Valletta (or anywhere mind you) without a top on. And a woman cannot stay with a bikini in Balluta Square (or anywhere HOT for that matter?).
Get your head out from your.. "behind" dear people.
Claire Busuttil
Jul 31st 2010, 18:20
who said that it is ok, for men to go around with a bare tummy??
estelle grech
Jul 30th 2010, 11:35
In my opinion, it is not a matter of being a Catholic counrty, it is a matter of etiquette to wear the appropriate attire depending on the situation. Bikinis are appropriate on the beach but not in the street. A simple sarong wrapped over the bikini would be enough. However I think it was much more rude of the people who lynched th epoor girl and hurled abuse at her. Could one not simply have politely asked her to out a sundress or something when leaving the beach? Did they have to act the way they did? This is very bad publicity for a place which generates economy as a tourist destination.
joanne pace
Jul 29th 2010, 18:53
Persons with severe mental breakdowns and with medieval mind sets act this way. Judge not or be judged. What a shame to lynch a girl in a Bikini, not even in strict Islamic countries its done,Really !
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 29th 2010, 11:13
@ Jeremy N Grech
So, according to you, when does a bikini stop being a bikini and become something pornographic? Can you enlighten us?
Anthony Farrugia
Jul 29th 2010, 10:42
So-called "indecency" like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Dr Joe Brincat
Jul 28th 2010, 20:32
"In the United States, clothing-related laws are set by state and local governments. A variety of different offenses, such as "indecent exposure", "public lewdness", "public indecency", "disorderly conduct" and so on, may require exposure of a specific body part (genitals, buttocks, anus, nipples on women), a specific intention or effect (being sexually suggestive, offending or annoying observers). In some cases, a member of the opposite sex must be present. In Florida, designated nudity areas are given an explicit exception. There are also some specific prohibitions against sexual acts, such as having sexual intercourse in public, or publicly caressing someone in a sexual way. In Indiana and Tennessee, there are specific prohibitions against showing a noticeably erect penis through clothing, or other sensitive areas through semi-transparent clothing. In some states, indecent conduct can also occur on private property, depending on the intent or effect of the act. In some cases there are exceptions for spouses, breastfeeding, and in New York, theatre performances. In most states, there is a governing state statute which defines the offence;. Some local governments also regulate personal exposure, as well as commercial activities such as strip clubs" Cut and pasted. USA mind you !
Adrian Cachia
Jul 28th 2010, 19:39
Are we serious? Really? Are we serious? Please tell me it's a joke!
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 13:03
@ Jeremy N Grech
Seems like you are suggesting that there is nothing wrong with ladies moving around with two tassel bits on their boobs and a tapasexo, just like they do during carnival in Brazil. Bet you consider that very comfortable!
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 29th 2010, 00:29
Well we said bikini not pornographic clothes Mr Farrugia. It's summer DOH! if you are comfortable the way you dress.. let all the rest be comfortable.
S. Azzopardi
Jul 28th 2010, 10:28
Yesterday I was near a pool and I had a girl - a maltese one who is also a mother, running around the pool al the time in a tiny swimsuit with her behind coming out of the swim suit constantly because it was so small that material could not make it to cover it. In another occassion I was in Kemmuna and I had a topless 65-70 year old russian woman near me. It was disgusting. There was one thing to do turn my head the other way and move but it's non sense trying to rage on these people. The more attention you give them the more they do it.
Claire Busuttil
Jul 28th 2010, 18:10
@SAzzopardi-
you see you had to turn your head the other side, because the people you mentioned lacked of respect.
S. Azzopardi
Jul 28th 2010, 10:16
Can someone please enlighten me. Are we in the 1950s or 2010? I lost the date please.
What a shame of a country and what a shame on people. No one is able to mind his own business. Maybe she was afraid her husband would look at her. Maybe she is not aware of how much worse we see on TV (Oh but that's not a problem because no one sees what we're watching on TV late at night).
Grow up, get a life!!!!!
J. Spiteri
Jul 28th 2010, 09:01
maybe for some of the people here this girl may have been 'indecent' however who are we to judge? she is only here to enjoy her holiday and want it or not she is free to wear what the hell she wants without having to face the daily judgment of the maltese nation. if you don't like someting just turn your head around, being arrogant and acting like a know-it-all will take you to now where. even though we have one culture here, it's full of different life styles including fashion. some people prefer to cover up, others like to show a bit more, fair enough you don't approve of their style (maybe a lot more dont approve of yours) but leave everyone to live their life, don't we all have a lot more important things to worry about? :)
now if religion has to be involved in this too, I thought we are the a catholic nation not a close minded nazi nation :p
J. Falzon
Jul 28th 2010, 17:51
Agreed mate
I can't wait to get out of this forsaken country
We were created naked, clothes are a man-made discomfort.
And yet nakedness is "unholy"
I would like to see what the Maltese do if a nudist beach is opened here. Protest with banners and Burkas in front of it?
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 27th 2010, 23:42
can anyone please explain me what is wrong in wearing bikini in a square?! Seriously now? what is this getting to? what a shame on maltese people. bleh
Dr Joe Brincat
Jul 27th 2010, 19:39
I see it from an angle of "good tastes". Even visitors should acquaint themselves with what is acceptable. Once the mayor of San Remo Italy banned bathing attire away from the beach. There is a time and place for everything. The reaction may have been excessive, and could have been more polite. That is also good taste. I do not know the nationality of the student, but I am sure that even in her country there is a "dress code". Would she go on a bus like that ? This is not a question of morality or being old fashioned. Just proper at the right time, and on the other side, properly handling foreigners who are given the benefit of the doubt that they do not know.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 28th 2010, 11:29
Oh come on you are all talking as if there's something wrong with wearing bikini in summer... like seriously now?! aren't we a supposedly free country? everyone should be free to dress up the way they feel comfortable.
Dr Joe Brincat
Jul 28th 2010, 16:24
I am not coming on. I never said that wearing a bikini in summer is offensive. Australia and Sweden are also free countries where they have nudist camps. But I have never seen anyone walking nude in the streets, whether in Sydney or Stockholm. Bikini is proper for the seaside. I have not been to Balluta Square for quite some time, as it would be difficult to park. If there is a swimming pool in Balluta Square, then you are right. If not, then.......
Wikipedia defines Bikini as swimsuit for women, and so does the Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary - the prudes !!!!
Rachel Azzopardi Carbonese
Jul 27th 2010, 12:28
Fair enough, the woman mentioned in the article is described as 'mature' (ironic considering her infantile behviour). This could be a possible indication of the socially conditioned, old fashioned mentality she has developed over her years. Regardless, everybody is entitled to their own opinion of what is to be considered decent or indecent attire.
But honestly, who does this woman think she is? Her mother? And what about the mob that joined forces with her, who have been described as what i could only imagine to be deranged hyenas? Did they honestly feel so invested in the welfare of the Maltese community that they could not resist the need to publicly intimidate and bully this poor girl? Really?
This is just so typical of the interfering and prying nature of the maltese people, always looking for a reason to moan. Or in this case, mock and taunt.
It would have been a laughable incident if the woman gave her performance solo. But an orchestra of violins supporting her? How embarrassing.
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 26th 2010, 22:05
Mr Crockford, i hope you read my previous comment in the light-hearted spirit it was intended; incidentally, since you state that you do not condone the girl's attire, were any strategic parts of her body unclad, ie. was her Lato B a sight for sore eyes? I mean there are bikinis which are no different from what some ladies usually wear on a Saturday night in Paceville and then there are the so-called Belen Rodriguez bikinis. Not that i would know too much about this; simply asking and laughing my head off.
Pierre Micallef Grimaud
Jul 26th 2010, 21:00
If the girl was wearing a bikini at the beach in Balluta, that would have been a different story, but not in the square. Foreigners should adapt to our way of living. We Maltese do the same whenever we go abroad. Another thing we don’t know is whether the girl said or did some indecent gestures in reply to the woman who ran towards her.
Miguel Micallef
Jul 27th 2010, 20:05
"15m away it's OK, but here, NO!"
Is this a serious argument? What's the technical criteria for it to be OK? Sand under the feet? Proximity to the sea? If so, by how much? Isn't Balluta sqaure exactly near Balluta beach?
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 27th 2010, 23:45
what adapting of way of living? this is just SHAMEFUL. What's wrong in wearing bikini along the streets in summer? are we still living in the middle ages or what?
MBorg
Jul 26th 2010, 19:09
Maybe these women should not have acted in the way they did but sometimes these brazen foreign students just ask for it.
Turists must be told that they can wear all the bikinis they want when swimming or by the sea . Walking about in our streets in barely there bikinis is another matter and should not be allowed.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 27th 2010, 23:47
and why is that Mr Borg?
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 28th 2010, 11:40
and maltese should be told to MIND their OWN business for god's sake. Leave them live.
Paul Xuereb
Jul 26th 2010, 18:39
I can't believe that Maltese people can be so inhospitable. rgalea is correct in saying that Taliban women don't wear a Burka. Who are the Maltese to tell this lady how to dress and act when all the Maltese do is curse, cheat on their significant other and participate in corrupt and illegal activities. If the Maltese want to be a part of the EU and have tourism as the dominate part of our economy then the whole country should move into the 21th century and be tolerant to other people's way of life, because we the Maltese are far from pure and perfect.