Mario Dingli, Sliema
Free to criticise (2)
Austin Sammut finished his piece on 1981 (February 7) by writing: “I hope that all those who were around at the time… will associate themselves with these reminiscences and relate them to their children and grandchildren”.
I am 86 years old and I did indeed relate these happenings and many more to my grandchildren, now 18 year olds. My no-frills account was truthful. However, the end result is: “Nannu, for heaven’s sake, don’t exaggerate!”
In other words, although 100 per cent true, these events are really unbelievable.
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Mr Michael Debono
Feb 10th, 17:48
Once you are 86 years old you must have recalled the P.N. culture before the war. The shooting at Strickland in Court, the stoning of Constitutional people attending a meeting outside Porte des Bombes, the Ettore Bono scandalous oath and the behaviour of certain category of people. The fascist school,the Conte Ciano diary to show that the P.N received money from Mussolini government.And so many other events. .History is not to ignore certain events or be chosey what to comment and of course not to brain wash our children.
Carmel camilleri
Feb 10th, 16:33
Mario I know how right you are from my personal experience. The fact is that the Nationalist's propaganda machine has failed miserably in this regard. Our youngsters having had it so good for so long do not believe the deprivation and descrimination we went through in the 70sand 80s. For example they cannot believe that having a cordless telephone was crime and many had their homes searched for such item. They cannot believe that a coloured TV was a privilege for the friends of friends. Yes our youngsters have tasted only the good side of the coin. We paved the road for them.
Victor Laiviera
Feb 10th, 18:18
"... a coloured TV was a privilege for the friends of friends ..."
A gross distortion of the facts. The truth was that, when colour TV started becoming widespread, Malta was still recovering from the decades of PN Governments and it was felt that we could not afford an outflow of foreign currency to import large numbers of colour televisions.
The Labour Government found a very good solution. It set up a joint company with Grundig to assemble their sets locally. The Maltese consumer got one of the best sets on the market at a good price and the Maltese economy was spared the shock of a sudden surge in imports.
It is true, as happens everywhere and always, when you have regulations you will get individual who abuse of them. Just look at the papers. But it was a minor hiccup compared with the general success of the scheme.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 10th, 19:29
Victor do you think any PN sympathiser is going to accept your explanation without finding some twisted answer to make you look as though we were living in Siberia during the bad days ?
Victor Laiviera
Feb 10th, 15:59
I think it is rather irresponsible of Mr Dingli to give his grandchildren a warped view of our political history just to satisfy partisan, political passions.
Emanuel Farrugia
Feb 10th, 18:57
Why bother Victor and waste time arguing about the past What's done is done and we cannot turn the clock back. Why do you think there is so much hate and animosity in politics. it's because people like Mr. Dingli vent their feelings and fill up their grandchildren with the idea that they were the only victims. They like playing at being angels. Now look at me, I know some bright PN spark is going to reply to my comment, but do you think I will bother with a reply, No Sir Victor, we have more important things to worry about. Austin Sammut can finish his piece any way he likes. I am not taking his or anybody else's advice and go back to the past. It's the future that beckons
Alfred Grech
Feb 10th, 15:23
If you look at Acts 35:13, it states that St Paul removed the poison from the viper's tongue and put it in the Maltese people's tongue - oh well, not all Maltese but in quite a few of them.l
Mr Henry A. Grima
Feb 10th, 16:57
Alfred you even have a Bible written by you as well, it seems.
That is a Maltese sexist saying, usually wrongly attributed to women.
No wonder you try to rewrite what happened in the 70's and 80's!
And if it was a Labour Leader, it must follow that only he must have had control of the 'horrible attitudes' in his Party.
So much for the spin going round that it was the Nats who were instigating all the bombings and general unrest, like supporters with submachineguns, firing at will and ransacking and burning of the Times, Eddie's home and party clubs during those times.
I was there existing under the oppression of waiting for 11 years for a useless telephone line, bought second hand from a Communist State.
Alfred Grech
Feb 10th, 18:02
Henry, Malta's past was dirty under the Nats and the Labourites and even under Strickland. If the present leader of the PL happened to be the same, then yes, let's keep reminding the public of what he did but the leader is different and the one previous to Joseph was also different in fact was the one who brought civility to the otherwise hot headed, irrational Maltese.
What they did to the Times and to Eddies family was wrong and so were the other killngs, beatings and transfers committed by the NP but things are now different so let's look forwards and not backwards and let's not put the blame on today's leaders simply to make them lose votes.
We have to be fair. Re Bible, I think you have the edited and censored version that's why you could not find my quote :))
Alfred Grech
Feb 10th, 14:08
The PN are known for their "tixwix" and they did a good job on doing tons of harm with their incitement. There were sad events in the 80's but there were sad events with the transfers the NP people have given to many people not to mention that they have always ignored the working class.
No one has a monopoly for perfection - bringing the past to demonize the PL is not the way to go - we have different leader and it took a PL leader, Alfred Sant, to put an end to the horrible attitudes that used to be displayed during election time - not Borg Olivier, not Fenech Adami but Alfred Sant - a LABOUR.
Joe Busuttil
Feb 10th, 11:28
You didn't, by any chance, forget to go a bit more backward in time ,and mention the 50s and 60s did you? You know, Sir Michael Gonzi,the "Umbrella",the" Mizbla", the "Interdett", having to pass the Parish Priest's approval to get a job with the govt., the ringing of church bells so that the MLP's voice wouldn't be heard,the stoning of MLP supporters and the belief by Gozitans that a vote for Labour would result in worms eating their crops,people,including nuns from religious orders begging for alms outside city gate, homosexuals considered as law breakers and outcasts,no minimum wage,no Air Malta, and the list goes on and on,too long to mention. You should also tell your grandchildren that were it not for the MLP you wouldn't have a pension to allow you to lead an independent lifestyle in your winter years.
Guido Farrugia
Feb 10th, 12:52
Hopefully Mr. Dingli shows your detailed answer to his children and grandchildren. Indeed the list goes on and on. Just the Welfare State would have done fine. Prosit Joe.
Pat Hobson
Feb 10th, 11:05
And your grandchildren were right. You were exaggerating. The 80's history has been warped by the PN's re-writing of history to suit their perverse lust for power! The PN apologists describe the early 80's as if Malta was a Beirut, Iraq, Iran, or Egypt, Tunisia and Syria. This was far from the truth. It was and still is in the PN;s interest to propagate and exaggerate those times. What the author fails to mention is that most of the events were unleased by the PN sympathisers themselves. Bombing, parliamentary boycotts, politcal manifestations, industrial strife, business boycotts, broadcasting boycotts, civil disobedience. I'm not saying that the MLP government wasn't at fault, but come let's all say the truth! Who stood to gain from all this, the MLP in government who had everything to lose, of the PN in Opposition which had everything to gain. Let's call a spade a spade. Maybe sometime in the future, history will be written as it should have been, and not warped beyond recognition to suit one side only! And please 'Nannu, for heaven's sake, don't exaggerate!" I lived those times too!
Tommy Vella
Feb 10th, 10:57
Exactly, my experience, even though I am not 86 but 68.