THE PARTY ASPIRING
Labour was declared to be the party for the middle class by one of its bright young things more than a year ago, which led to quite a few mild raspberries being directed in her direction, given that Labour used to be the party that blew its collective nose towards the middle class, back in the days of the soldiers of steel.
But needs must, and since it's the middle class that decides who gets to run this country every five years or so, it's hardly surprising that Labour has been trying to appeal to the aspirational classes (i.e. the ones that perceive themselves, rightly or wrongly, to be below the middle class)
Truth be told, we're all middle class, really, because the country has homogenised and morphed, pretty much. We don't, shock-horror so-called journalism apart, have an underclass to speak of, just as we don't have a cadre of top dogs who lord it over the rest of us and much as it pains me to admit it, I'm as middle-class as the next bloke.
What, you may ask, has brought on this philosophical disquisition into the motives behind Labour's image-tweaking?
Well, it's not the way they seem to try to appeal to each and every current of thought and reaction that manifests itself, not completely, anyway. We've become used to a Labour spokesperson or other leaping with glee onto every bandwagon that trundles by, whether it's anti-immigrant, pro-hunting, anti-City Gate, pro-apple pie and mom or whatever: if there's a vote there, Labour will be after it.
No, what brought this particular piece of whimsy on was a chance remark in an online exchange I was having, about how the current Leader of the Opposition seems to be messing around with his follicles, seeking to have them filled out a bit and looking all youthful-like, and it occurred to me that, follically-challenged as I am, Labour should really be the party for me.
After all, the writing was on the wall in this area even from the tenure of the previous head-honcho down Mile End way.
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Mr Johnny Xerri
Jun 18th 2011, 14:01
IM Beck you come all virginal on the prohunting issue when it was the PN who sent written guarantees before the 2003 election and referendum.
But double standards are known as PN's strongest point...I guess its ok for PN to guarantee to hunters a whollop full of crap...but its not ok if PL promise to safeguard our rights within the parameters of the EU Birds directive....
Go put on tHe black T-Shirt...remember the 'Ban Illegal Spring hunting".....it only shows how good a Lawyer you are at evaluating EU Directives.
Ivan Grech Mintoff
Jun 18th 2011, 09:25
Come on guys... even the lower class have a right and no doubt look forward to hearing about "where you've been eating during the week-end.", "holidays abroad, yes, even eating out frequently in the best restaurants,"
etc.
Speaking of which, I indulged myself and enjoyed the great culinary/beverage delights of Tiko Tiko bar, Zejtun (Rahal ta fuq) and - as always happens with the lower classes of this esteemed establishment - we discussed this Blog(sic!) .
For those wondering if this is true or not, I tell you one thing: if you believe comments like " i just love it when the bait is taken so swiftly..." and " Except that mine is no error...", then you KNOW that my story is all fact and not fiction!
Going back to yesterday's indulgences, as always, Indri tal-Bajda , tat-Tiko Tiko Bar (Zejtun), Retd) came up with another perfect gem. He drunkenly stood up and to hushed attendance, he suddenly exclaimed:
"So! We have 'one party aspiring' and 'one party expiring'!!!"
He might be lower class, crude and bare footed and (shock horror!) no grasp of the English vernacular, but he DOES have great words of wisdom, nevertheless, bless him!
A. Tabone
Jun 18th 2011, 13:01
That bar is at Tal-Hniena, in Hal Gwann/Bir id-Deheb. Ir-Rahal ta' Fuq is too broadly defined a term to be used for directions.
Although I cannot understand why you haven't grown out of those silly *sics* of yours, I urge you to keep these parables of yours coming; your attempts to understand us Southerners are rather entertaining... self-absorbing, but entertaining. On one side you have ABC saying we're all middle class, and on the other there's you and your petty divisiveness. Not much more to add.
Ivan Grech Mintoff
Jun 18th 2011, 18:17
@ AT
If Ir-Rahal ta Fuq is too broadly defined then so it calling this PN apologistic writing a blog.
Hence the (Sic!) after the Blog.
;)
PS I mentioned ir "rahal ta fuq" as ironically I came across another bar called Tiko Tiko this time in Qawra & did not want to mix the two together.
Besides it is at the one in Zejtun where one finds the inimitable and wise Indri... who once had us in stitches as he kept insisting that Guido DM was 'tal-life' as he just had one ear pierced. Needless to say come the 8pm News, all eyes were glued on the TV and heads twisted round and round to get a better view as Guido spoke on...
:)
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Jun 17th 2011, 18:13
i just love it when the bait is taken so swiftly...
Mr Victor Laiviera
Jun 17th 2011, 19:44
When I was at school, we had a teacher like that - every time we pointed out an error on the blackboard, he would say "I was wondering who would be first to spot my deliberate mistake ....".
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Jun 17th 2011, 22:36
Except that mine is no error...
Mr Victor Laiviera
Jun 18th 2011, 08:53
Your error lies in trying to mock and ridicule the people who comment here.
Mr Peter Korsten
Jun 17th 2011, 17:08
Well, someone has to go after the middle class voter, since the PN ministers seemed more focussed on giving themselves a whopping big raise and not tell anyone. It's not going to look well next around there are elections, is it?
Charlie Borg
Jun 17th 2011, 15:50
If I could describe the commentary above, all I would say is that it's just a group of words. Empty. Without a subject. Without an aim. I have really come to the conclusion that ABC has run out of things to run about. Why don't you have a break, dott? After all, running a blog or commentary is not merely intended to show off your prowess of the English language or to tell us about where you've been eating during the week-end.
Mr Andy Farrugia
Jun 17th 2011, 20:56
And one assumes that you are chock full of subject and predicate, theme and rheme, object, adverbial and complement; in short full of substance. It is indeed hilarious the way you go about quixotically trying to stifle the objects of your disdain; you must be suffering from various allergies.
Ivan Grech Mintoff
Jun 17th 2011, 15:36
I'm lost trying to follow your "logic"...
So according to your 1st Para we should one and all be shocked to the ground by 'someone in LP' (who else would shock said blogger(sic!)?!) stating that LP will be the party of 'the middle Class'...
Your 3rd para states "Truth be told, we're all middle class, really,"....
So.. according to your good self (if I'm understanding correctly that is ?) we should all smirk and make rude noises and fall in fits of laughter onto the floor whilst gasping for air (at LP's expense) for it saying that it will (soon) represent.. us all?
Is that it?
Apart from the wise crack about hair that is...
Nothing more serious happening in Malta for you to whitewash? The state of PN right now for instance...?
It WILL be a good weekend after all.... :)
Mr JOSEPH AGIUS
Jun 17th 2011, 14:17
"Truth be told, we're all middle class, really, because the country has homogenised and morphed, pretty much. We don't, shock-horror so-called journalism apart, have an underclass to speak of, just as we don't have a cadre of top dogs who lord it over the rest of us and much as it pains me to admit it, I'm as middle-class as the next bloke."
What planet has this man come from? Or is he taking the mickey out of us? Do earning capacity, property ownership, bank accounts, holidays abroad, yes, even eating out frequently in the best restaurants, etc. have anything to do with class, Mr Beck?
And yet we hear, but of course these noises do not reach his protected walls, of poverty being on the rise.
Would IM Beck perchance like to change places with one of his middle-class comrades, those aka 'the great unwashed? Or has 'class' now come to mean 'intelligence', 'wit', 'brains', or, say 'cleverness' to dupe the less gifted.
No top dogs, indeed!! Where have the best-paid jobs gone these last years. No calls for application, no interviews. No matter if you run the venture into the ground, you still get your bonus... and yet another fat appointment.
Most of us do not remember any other period when the difference between the fat cows and the basic wage earners was in fact so great..... and still growing
This is the kind of statement which leaves no doubt as to what extent the present government and its apologists have lost touch with the people.
Stefan Micallef
Jun 17th 2011, 13:21
Tparlax fil vojt,il labour dejjem favur il kacca kien!
Please choose the reason of your report below: