The gay, backwater of Mellieha?
I know I shouldn’t be flippant, really, given that the incident points to a highly disturbing mentality where the word “gay” is used as an insult and is also perceived as one by its recipient.
But seriously, the amount of “what the hells” (since I’m not allowed to use the more forceful internet lingo) that the latest court report generates is baffling. Go on, read more here. Basically, I can’t stop myself from giggling in exasperation at the inanity of it all. Immature, I know. But really, when you have an Australian guy, probably off his face, daring to call a Melliehi “gay”... the potential for comedy just cannot be ignored. And sure enough, the potential was fulfilled.
Because it’s not enough to be plagued by idiots who think that the worst insult ever is to be called gay. No, we also have to put up with our courts actually validating this argument. We now have it straight from the most august of institutions that being called “gay” is one of the worst provocations ever. And hey, you can’t seriously blame a guy by responding to this sort of nonsense with a couple of punches now, can you?
What on earth is this? Is this the message that our magistrates want to deliver? That being gay is somehow wrong? And anyway, since when is it okay to respond to provocation with violence? This must be a really proud moment for Dr Josie Muscat (read previous blog here).
Finally, of course, just to add to the element of farce, the magistrate saw fit to add that somehow the provocation was intense because it was made “in front of the people of Mellieha”. You know, that redneck backwater where irate fathers will take a shotgun to your head if you so much as look at their daughters.
To recap, lessons learnt at court today:
- If anyone provokes you, break their limbs.
- If you live in Mellieha, you have the intelligence of a spoilt 5-year-old.
Nice going.
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Franco Farrugia
Oct 11th 2012, 09:22
I don't think that 'Mellieha' and the residents there should be the focus of our wrath against such a disgusting sentence. According to the report, it states something like 'localities such as Mellieha'. Any fool can conclude that such a sentence can very easily be transposed into ANY locality in Malta and Gozo. Therefore, a very serious and dangerous precedent has been made.
Alison Bezzina
Oct 10th 2012, 08:02
IMPORTANT Disclaimer - this blog is not to be consumed literally. If you lack the sarcastic gene, please skip to the crosswords.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121010/blogs/do-not-call-me-gay.440357
Andy Farrugia
Oct 10th 2012, 15:44
Huh! Is this the way you normally operate? Intruding into someone else's territory to advertise your "piece" without so much as a by your leave? Unbelievably poor form!
Luke Falzon
Oct 10th 2012, 17:44
@Andy Farrugia
Ms Bezzina is merely linking to her own blog post whose subject relates heavily to this post. Nothing shameful about that.
Jeremy Azzopardi
Oct 13th 2012, 14:14
it's perfectly acceptable to do so in the comments section, as a matter of fact.
Franco Farrugia
Oct 10th 2012, 07:40
The magistrate in question has simply no idea what a Pandora's box he's just opened! I sincerely hope that the victim appeals the sentence, and if necessary, go to Europe with it.
Manuel Mangani
Oct 10th 2012, 17:51
Unfortunately the victim cannot appeal the sentence. Only the AG may decide to try and have the court ruling changed or overturned.
This judgment left us all very negatively suprised.
Marie Claire Vella
Oct 9th 2012, 17:13
It wasn't a couple of punches, Ramona, he was run over. I now expect to be given a conditional discharge if i run over a couple of people who called me names.
paul camilleri
Oct 9th 2012, 17:05
what puzzels me is that the person who was called gay, stated that he got in his car and even thought about running over the Austrialian, and low and behold who should cross the street?? yes you got it the Austrialian. if that wasnt an intent to bodily harm or kill i dont know what is!!!!!
Eric Soames
Oct 9th 2012, 16:56
' ... a couple of punches now, ...': Bad enough, but this was attempted vehicular homicide!
John Dee
Oct 9th 2012, 16:53
Well said Ramona, and you should add ............3. the good fortune to know you can get away with blatant attempted murder, literally!
The people of Melliah should be out arming their chariots in pursuit of the magistrate Carol Peralta, for his insult is surely greater than that issued by Jeremy Lalic .
Malicia Dabrowicz
Oct 9th 2012, 16:50
No, Ramona, this is not a laughing matter. There are laws that allow people to claim self defense if a gay person "taunted" them. In Australia and US this is know as a "gay panic" and has been used to free people from murders just because the victim was homosexual. This is exactly what the judge did. He legally stated that being gay is so offensive that it is justified to run people over with a car. To attempt to kill them and/or disable them. he also stated that people being offended so much have the right to avenge their honour. This is sharia. NO legal system have a mean to avenge honor by killing or harming people. This judge gave a green light to kill / harm others. I am - as a gay person - scared. We have people being beaten, thrown out of the bus, now it is also OK to run us over with cars.
Eric Soames
Oct 9th 2012, 19:11
Malicia Dabrowicz: ' ... to free people from murders just because the victim was homosexual.' Not in the US! The most famous one is probably the guy who was brought on 'Jenny Jones' silly 'secret crush' afternoon show. Same excuse, same 'thinking about it'. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jenny_Jones_Show The killer is serving 25 - 50 years.
S Scerri
Oct 9th 2012, 15:49
One of the few articles on TOM that have left me speechless. So now the Maltese courts introduced a system of two weights and two measures: one for the Maltese, and one for the backwater Billy stronghold of Mellieha. What a joke!
Apart from encouraging violence as a response to provocation, this judgement is an insult to all gay people and to all residents of Mellieha. And it's so ridicolous that I fear it will leak to international news, and apart from shaming the entire nation, also harm the reputation of all Maltese communities in Australia.
Francis Raeymaekers
Oct 9th 2012, 17:30
I couldn't agree with you more. On behalf of the few souls that live in Selmun, I wish it to be known throughout Malta and the international blogosphere, we have nothing to do with those Mellieha homophobes! *U*... (WELCOME TO MALTA!)
Ramon Casha
Oct 9th 2012, 15:40
Very succinctly put.
Bernard Mamo
Oct 9th 2012, 14:37
Spot on. What a shame :(
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