Controversial in life as in his death
The death of Dom Mintoff, one of the most controversial and towering figures in Maltese politics since Lord Strickland in the 1930s, appears to have reopened wounds from 30 or 40 years ago – for some, even from over 50 years ago.
What has happened in the past weeks says a lot about us as a nation. And most of it is unsavoury and makes for uncomfortable reflection. How can otherwise educated and reasonable people - on both sides of the political divide - react in the way they did, express thoughts of such intolerance, resurrect such historical and often uninformed prejudices and expose so many imagined wrongs three or four decades after the event? How can normally rational individuals fail to see that every leading political figure has both good and bad points?
Yet, to read some of the comments made in articles and on the blogs has almost invariably been to receive such an unbalanced and partial picture of the man as to make those judgements worthless.
Dom Mintoff was not the paragon, the saviour, some have made him out to be. But nor was he the devil incarnate that others have painted. He was, like many great figures, neither all black, nor all white.
As Eddie Fenech Adami, his nemesis for some 30 years, said, generously and in a statesman-like manner, a balanced assessment was that he did more good than harm.
As another avid Nationalist, Austin Bencini, put it, he was an outstanding parliamentarian. Other notably balanced assessments came from Lino Spiteri and Fr Joe Borg.
On the other hand, those who argued, in that petulant, spoilt kind of way that he “ruined the best years of our lives” and, therefore, they felt justified in dancing on his grave when the news of his death was announced, really need to take a hard look at themselves.
They should honestly ask themselves whether the long overdue rebalancing of Maltese society 40 years ago, the huge alleviation of poverty, the long-awaited development of the welfare state, the rehousing of families, the increase in national pride and self-confidence which Mintoff introduced and engendered were, on a national scale, not worth the personal sacrifices in lifestyle that many pampered and privileged individuals of my background had to endure.
And before somebody accuses me of not having been here throughout the period of the 1970s and 1980s and, therefore, having no idea what it was actually like, let me say that I was fortunate while I was in the Ministry of Defence to read many of the intelligence reports and diplomatic dispatches about Malta during that period.
And I have heard, at first hand, sometimes in glorious technicolour, from my friends over the last 20 years what things were like.
Yes, I do know about the lack of chocolate and toothpaste, about the impact on the (Royal) Malta University and the civil service, the lack of infrastructure investment, the international opprobrium as Malta flirted with some very unsavoury regimes, the red-in-tooth-and-claw socialism, the overbearing police force, the lack of control over Labour thugs, the class warfare (though it takes two to tango) and the tensions with the Church.
But even given all of that, history will judge Mintoff, on balance, to have been a force for good in Maltese society when this fledgling country first found its wings and when a deeply socially divided country began to even out some of the privileges that people like me and my friends had hitherto enjoyed.
In life as in death, Mintoff will remain a deeply controversial and divisive figure. Margaret Thatcher was (is) an equally divisive figure in Britain. But when she dies even those – the miners and the steel workers who lost their sources of employment, the unions that lost their power, the Scots who rejected her policy on the poll tax and the majority of those living north of the Watford Gap – who excoriated her in her lifetime will have the maturity to recognise that she transformed the country through sheer force of leadership and, on balance, made the country a muchbetter place.
These past ugly few weeks have shown that many are still incapable of rising above the political polarisation that characterises this country and that hotheads on both sides of the political divide will still come out of the woodwork to stoke the fires of hatred 30 or 40 years afterwards.
I had mistakenly thought that the accumulated stresses and strains of the 1970s and 1980s were behind us. Blind political allegiance should not be all. Yes, politics is the art of mobilising prejudice but reason should be the enemy of prejudice.
The lack of tolerance that has been shown by both sides, the inability to weigh the evidence of the last few decades and to reach an impartial and balanced judgement has been deeply worrying.
Talk of “the spectre of Dom Mintoff” to score cheap political points is unworthy and undermines all the good work that the Fenech Adami, Sant and Gonzi governments have done in the past 25 years.
It is something that both political leaders need to address forcefully if we are not to regress.
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Peter Simpson
Sep 23rd 2012, 08:25
I don't like Mintoff because I could only use one brand of toothpaste and eat one brand of chocolate! The political poverty of Dr Lawrence Gonzi- Maltese Prime Minister in the year 2012- is incredible!
GL Calleja
Sep 22nd 2012, 16:05
Mintoff was a good politician and he did a lot of good but he also did a lot of bad, so it kind of balances out. I look at Dom Mintoff as the person who away my father's property (requisitioned, confiscated) so he can accommodate one of his constituents and to this day I still cannot get that property back. I blame both the MLP and the PN for that injustice. Dom Mintoff because he confiscated the property and Dr Lawrence Gonzi for letting them keep it. There are over 60,000 empty apartments on this island and there is no reason whatsoever for the government to deprive my family from getting that requisitioned/derequisitioned property back. See Mr Scicluna, everybody has a story to tell, you tell yours and I will tell mine.
Carmel Camilleri
Sep 22nd 2012, 15:48
Dear Mr Scicluna have you ever had your property taken to be given to labour supporters? Have you ever spent days in lock up just for attending NP meeting.? Have you been beaten by the police in jail and outside? Have you lost your job because of policital activities? Have any of your sons/daughters lost their career because of labour's educational policy? Of course not. You were not here. You were reading only reports most probably labour twisted reports. People like you should shut up when they have no first hand information. The wounds that Mintoff inflicted on many will never be forgotten. Even Hitler made many good things to his people. About DR. E.F.A. He mad the only mistake in his life when he said that statement. Many nationalists victims of Dom regime will never forgive him.
GL Calleja
Sep 22nd 2012, 14:51
Mr Martin Scicluna it still boils down to the same old thing: Glass half full or glass half empty. Yes Dom Mintoff was a good politician and he did a lot of good but he also did a lot of bad, so it kind of balances out. I look at Dom Mintoff as the person who away my father's property (requisitioned, confiscated) so he can accommodate one of his constituents and to this day I still cannot get that property back. I blame both the MLP and the PN for that injustice. Dom Mintoff because he confiscated the property and Dr Lawrence Gonzi for letting them keep it. There are over 60,000 empty apartments on this island and there is no reason whatsoever for the government to deprive my family from getting that requisitioned/derequisitioned property back. See Mr Scicluna, everybody has a story to tell, you tell yours and I will tell mine.
Andy Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2012, 13:39
Perhaps this might be interesting for some:
TUC Congress: T-shirts rejoicing over Thatcher's death sold at trades union gathering
Commemorative T-shirts rejoicing in the moment when Baroness Thatcher dies are being sold at the annual trades union gathering in Brighton.
One of the T-shirts on sale at this year's TUC conference
One of the T-shirts on sale at this year's TUC conference Photo: Daily Telegraph
Kurt Waschnig
Sep 22nd 2012, 13:37
Dom Mintoff is Malta´s greatest son. He should be taken as an example by the Maltese. He was a great politician and there cannot be any doubt he was the father of modern Malta and he was prime minister from 1955 to 1958, when Malta had limited self-rule as a British colony, and from 1971 to 1984, when his vision, of a nonaligned, self-sufficient republic was substantially realised.
Dom Mintoff was a visionary, he wanted an end to Malta´s exploitation by foreign powers, a revival of national dignity and economic and diplomatic ties with nations that could underwrite Maltese neutrality.
During the time in office Mr Mintoff had achieved a lot for Malta.
Mr. Mintoff had eliminated foreign military bases in Malta, signed pacts for economic cooperation with the United States, China and other countries, and set his nation on a road to self-sufficiency with a welfare state, socialized medicine, diversified industries and most of its trade and tourism coming from the West.
An interesting article about Dom Mintoff can be viewed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Mintoff
Under his leadership the government introduced a wide range of social benefits and raised living standards.
Even after stepping down as Labour leader in 1984, Mr Mintoff continued to play an influential role as a member of parliament until 1998.
I love the plan to build a monument dedicated to him.
Dom Mintoff will be immortal in the hearts of the Maltese.
Best regards
Kurt Waschnig Oldenburg Germany
e-mail: oldenburg1952@yahoo.de
John Azzopoardi
Sep 22nd 2012, 15:42
"Dom Mintoff will be immortal in the hearts of the Maltese.
" - Mr Wasching, you really talk too much. Did you live in Malta in teh 70's and 80's when freedom of espression was being controlled and Maltese were not allowed to import and buy certain products. So please, see what you say and stop being so annoying. I am sure you were not living in Malta at the time.
John Azzopoardi
Sep 22nd 2012, 13:35
It is good that the discussion is taking place. The hope is that in a few months time this will go away and Mintoff will be able to rest in peace. There were good and bad things that Mintoff did like any other politician. And he had made foes both within the PN and PL parties. Some of the good things are the social services. Some fo the bad things is the dictatorial style actions he took, interference in private enterprise, control of products that came into Malta - e.g., Mars, TVs, fridges, cars, etc and of course placing Malta's security in jeopardy. Those are basically the facts and not hearsay.
Pat Hobson
Sep 22nd 2012, 12:15
@Steve Fenech. I agree with you. I still remember the decapitated heads on stakes decorating City Gate!!!
Give us a break!
Tommy Vella
Sep 22nd 2012, 13:05
We didn't have decapitated heads but we had quite a number of decapitated jobs, which meant families deprived of their incomes. I was one of the victims twice.
No to mention decapitated house loans for strikers. For strikers read people who saw it fit to stand up for their rights.
steve fenech
Sep 22nd 2012, 13:09
afraid it's all documented pat, its all documented .
Joseph Agius
Sep 22nd 2012, 12:04
There you have it Mr Scicluna. The first two comments are proof enough that some people, even authors of opinion pieces and politicians, do not want the wounds to heal. Anybody who dares do your walk they will shoot down. There are many more of them around and usually they have one very ‘good’ reason to go on the warpath against those with your mindset. They have had it good, some of them very good, much better than the other 99% of the people, in these last 25 years. Our only hope is that, though vociferous, they are indeed a small minority.
Carmel Serracino-inglott
Sep 23rd 2012, 12:36
Mr. Agius. Time IS healing the wounds ONLY we do not want the Lp to open them on our children let alone inflict new ones. The people are the same in the LP who have already spelled out the mintoffianism is unique -- ask ES. Infact of all the people I fear ( there are others) is one called Edward Scicluna a mintoffian economist.
Tommy Vella
Sep 22nd 2012, 12:01
the class warfare (though it takes two to tango) and the tensions with the Church.
As regards the Church doesn't it also take two to tango? Or is it two weights and two measures?
Andy Farrugia
Sep 22nd 2012, 11:48
Fools be those who take this NOBODY seriously!
steve fenech
Sep 22nd 2012, 11:01
so martin scicluna formed his opinion of what it was like living under mintoff from dispatches read at the MOD and letters from friends back home, wow ! perhaps scicluna should consider that such evidence is not admissible in court, and for obvious reasons.
he should also consider that to move forward and have a more egalitarian society one does not need to employ daily sickening violent acts on your adversaries. subsequent , nationalist governments did just that but also increased to enjoyment of human rights in malta. now that is something worth celebrating !
his comparison to margaret tatcher does not hold. yes she was divisive, but she certainly didn't employ the violent tactics employed by mintoff on his opponents.
and that is mintoff' s eternal testament
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Sep 22nd 2012, 10:22
On Monday, September 10, 2012, I wrote in my blog as follows. Was I simply being prescient, or is this a repetition? "So good, we read it twice" like New York, New York.
"I was going to dedicate this installment of the feelings of Little Me to a bit of a raspberry in the general direction of that quite prolific writer, Mr Martin Scicluna, who produces with the backing of a think-tank with which I am not familiar, though I am sure they externalise thoughts of great pith and moment regularly.
The raspberry was to take into account the somewhat supercilious-sounding piece Scicluna put together, bemoaning the demonisation of Mintoff, because, don't you know, the old buffer wasn't all that bad, this is just those mildly peculiar Nationalists scare-mongering, you see? Scicluna feels able to say this not because he lived here in those "not all that bad" days, don't you see, but because he read the reports from the comfort of his office in, I believe, Whitehall, no doubt over a cup of Earl Grey and a chocolate digestive.
Oh, so that's all ok then, the Seventies and Eighties were all sweetness and light."
Please choose the reason of your report below: