Red hearts do bleed as well
I read the full-page article ‘(Dis)honourable politics’ by Tourism Minister Mario de Marco (The Sunday Times, July 22).
It is not my intention in any way to pass judgment on Dr de Marco’s strong effusion in honour of his late father. If he believes his father’s memory has been tarnished in a most vile manner in the past few weeks, he is, of course, free to vent his feelings in public and to show his distress at the way in which politicians and pseudo-politicians seem to feel at liberty to hurt each other.
I was, however, mostly struck by his reference to his mother’s attitude throughout all this unpleasant experience – and I must admit it struck a painful chord in my memory.
As the brother of former Labour leader Alfred Sant I too can distinctly recall my mother’s anguish at the base, vicious, callous and insensitive attacks on his personal integrity that have characterised his political career.
He was accused of drink driving; labelled as a perfect subject for a TV programme on politicians who dabble in drugs and drink; attacked for the way in which he took his oath of office in 1996; and falsely accused on the eve of an election by Eddie Fenech Adami of having stopped the latter’s son from studying at University.
His serious illness in 2008 was also given public exposure with full details that even his family was, at times, not aware of.
Although these vile attacks and innuendos came from Nationalists, there was never any attempt to stop them. What my mother used to tell me on each of these occasions will, of course, remain between us – but I can assure readers that she was as hurt as Dr de Marco’s mother. But then, not given to melodrama and histrionics, she chose to suffer her grief in silence.
Dr de Marco would do well to remember that, after all, red hearts can bleed as well.
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Silvio Abela
Jul 30th 2012, 06:45
This is incredible!
Such a touching letter and there are only six/seven comments. Then on something that is futile you find tens of comments. Where are the usual "experts"?
Goes to show how well appreciated such letters from one side of the camp are!
Joe Busuttil
Jul 30th 2012, 13:42
I can assure you that more comments were uploaded but the Times chose not to publish them.
Barney Camilleri
Jul 29th 2012, 15:34
What can one say, other than how true and what a shame.
I have to say to the Minister of Tourism Dr. De Marco I understand your feeling and my prayers go to you and your family, yet one feel equally duty bound not to forget the suffering of Dr. Sant's family? and what about today the suffering that one read in the paper of people be they young, old, dying or want just a night sleep, are they not with red hearts bleeding too? Maybe for these it is a diffferent kettle of fish after all it is good for the tourism business. There is a saying: We all scrath where it hurt.
Tony Mangion
Jul 29th 2012, 14:29
If the Times publish this note, I would say that with a doubled face the P.N. always play the part of a martyr to cover up their hatred toward the labourites. The Maltese voters should realise this and will not allow themselves to fall again into the P.N's trap. Their motto is to attack the singer not the song. A recent example is when according to Franco Debono's statement when he was told to attack ferociosly the LP on a daily basis.
Mark A. Sammut
Jul 29th 2012, 14:19
As the son of a very close associate of Alfred Sant, I can confirm that my mother too suffered, and suffered a lot, for all the unethical, dastardly, vicious, cowardly, malicious, and ultimately useless acts of cruelty and political vendetta we have been through. And she is still suffering, in silence.
Guido de Marco was a great patriot, whom I admired and still admire for his courage and kindness. He did suffer at the hands of a certain clique, as anybody with a modicum of intelligence can infer from his autobiography. Yet, this great man is a wonderful example. Despite everything, he kept soldiering on. This is the legacy he leaves behind him: a legacy of courage and sheer will to survive.
As to the others who seem to believe that politics consists of character assassination and cold-blooded stabbings of all those who do not belong to the clique, what to say? Simply that Alfred Sant was completely right when he reminded us of the Victorian saying, the biter bit.
The method employed by the biter's clique - the method described by Michael Sant in his poignant letter -amounts to psychological terrorism. It's not a term I am inventing. It has already been used in the past to describe the local scene. Ironically enough, by Nationalists when referring not to the Mintoff-KMB years, but to others, in the beginning of the 20th century. (Arturo Mercieca's autobiography is an eye-opener.)
These others have, to my mind, found a worthy successor in the bitten biter and his psychologically-challenged clique. (Not my words these, but the words of a wise Magistrate upon finding one of the members of the clique guilty of libel.)
Johnathan Cilia
Jul 29th 2012, 13:31
Good letter, a more down to earth perspective than we usually get.
Eddy Privitera
Jul 29th 2012, 10:22
The PN has always been the master of spin. And will stop at nothing to reach its political aims. Even by blaming the Labour Party for its own sins !
Victor Laiviera
Jul 29th 2012, 10:03
Well said, indeed.
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