Trees and the fortifications
Hard as I try, I can’t find much to commend in Antonio Anastasi’s reply (The Sunday Times, December 2) to my article, except for its consistency. Mr Anastasi is not wrong once in a while. He is always wrong.
Anastasi believed he would look smart with his culturally-challenged friends by offending me personally, over and over again – he somehow presumes he has the right credentials for doing that.
The thrust of my argument was that the fortifications are Malta’s proudest cultural landmark; that we should be doing everything to enhance their visibility and nothing to belittle it.
I said that the Order of Malta never planted trees in front of the bastions or important architecture, and that cities that care for their bastions never allow tress to obstruct their visibility.
I also said that I had no problem with trees over the bastions, and only condemned those planted in front.
He denies that the Knights of Malta opposed the planting of tress in Valletta. In fact, he enthuses over “the gardens the Order built on the fortifications and the trees and gardens they allowed to be planted within the city”. I am not sure how to break it to you, Mr Anastasi. This is pure nonsense, bred in ignorance, fertilised by presumptuousness.
The Order’s building regulations governing Valletta expressly forbade any gardens inside the city. Not one single pre-British townscape of Valletta shows one tree, in any public space inside Valletta – nowhere.
Anastasi’s allergy to historical accuracy, a delightful trait he nourishes lovingly, deludes him into believing that the Valletta gardens we know of were planted by the knights. Sorry to let him down; they were not planted by the Knights – not a single one of them.
As a prime example of an old knightly garden in Valletta he mentions the orange grove in Piazza Regina, created, he says, by the Order and removed by the British.
Sorry to disappoint you again – it is exactly the other way round. That orchard was ordered by Governor Le Marchant, and later removed by Governor Fremantle. Why do I even bother?
Mr Anastasi then throws at me the mulberry grove in Piazza Celsi, created, he says, by the Knights. Yeah, sure, by the Knights of the Order of Disneyland. That grove was planted under Governor Hastings. So, wrong once again.
His lethal blow was quoting Lapparelli’s suggestion that trees be planted in the new city. Sure. But did Lapparelli ever recommend trees in front of the bastions? You bet he did not.
With Lapparelli and a few others, I share this prejudice that a right thing in the wrong place becomes a wrong thing.
Our third-hand historian asserts that the Upper and Lower Barakkas were gardens at the time of the Order. What evidence in support of this bilge? All the paintings before the British period show them completely tree-less. So, wrong again.
But Anastasi wants to make sure that no one will accuse him of knowing what he is talking about. He will not settle for being wrong. He wants to be wrong at the top of his voice.
Same goes for Sa Maison. Where is the evidence? Come on, Anastasi, don’t be bashful, share with the rest of us ignoramuses one mite of proof that the Order had public gardens in Valletta, and allowed trees in front of fortifications.
Awesome historical illiteracy still earns you rounds of vapid cheering from others equally illiterate (“I applaud your unbiased and researched factual and interesting article”).
By the way, I loved his November 19 online comment that 90 per cent of the bastions are still visible. Ah, so only 10 per cent are invisible.
Like saying: what a lovely smile that lady has. Only two teeth are missing.
To prove me wrong when I said that most of the renowned fortified cities permit no trees in front of their bastions, Anastasi pointed triumphantly to the Guinigi tower in Lucca, which has five trees growing on its rooftop.
He may be super in scuba diving, but his logic has still to make a timid debut. I thought diving lessons included advice not to venture beyond your depth.
Serious historians suffer lifetimes engaged in fastidious research. Charlatans are luckier – no such problems for them.
I do not recall ever seeing Anastasi anywhere near an archive, nor have I ever read one researched paragraph written by him. Yet this historical pauper who has made the spread of cultural misinformation his crusade, feels entitled to accuse others of inaccurate rants and of rewriting history. Which history? The poorly digested fantasies of self-inflated push-hards who believe that history can be learnt by dipping into old issues of Reader’s Digest in doctors’ waiting rooms?
Maybe I should step aside to give the Historical Society a chance to elect him president. Anastasi would be such a breath of fresh air for Maltese history-writing. He would usher in a new era in which history would be made up of what he overheard at the hairdresser.
Anastasi seems to delight in stale platitudes like “a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen”. Perhaps he should meditate on another maxim: one from Alexander Pope, which says something about a little learning being a wondrous thing. Or did Pope say dangerous?
Mr Anastasi swore he would do his utmost not to get one right. Nice to see how he kept his word.
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Penny Dunn
Dec 11th 2012, 14:11
I was shocked to read such a rude and intemperate letter from someone of Dr. Bonnello's standing and education. Surely people are entitled to agree to disagree without having such vituperation heaped upon them. There was no need for Dr. Bonnello to descend to the level of the playground.
Ray Pisani
Dec 11th 2012, 23:02
Education doesn't automatically bring with it good manners.
Especially if one believes oneself so educated that everyone else is irrelevant.
S Scerri
Dec 11th 2012, 06:16
This letter is objectionable in every way, sinking to a tone far below what one would expect of a judge.
Incidentally, in Albert Ganado's 'Valletta Citta Nuova', the knight's military engineer is always referred to as 'Laparelli', which is how his documents are signed, and not as Bonello spells it, 'Lapparelli'. Another 'de Valette'?
Joe Galea
Dec 10th 2012, 21:16
There is no need for anybody to be an expert but GB is dead right.Our country is full of alien invasive spieces of trees planted by the british in the most illogical of places with regards to architectural aesthetic.We should stop to put fish and chips as being Maltese.
Ray Pisani
Dec 11th 2012, 22:59
Well done G. B for showing your true colours.
Arrogance and disrespect towards a fellow Maltese who has every right to an opinion.
We are not in your courtroom here so show respect to others even if you disagree.
All this fuss about trees when Valletta has been ruined forever by Piano's 'Gap' and Parliament
building which are an eyesore for future historians to debate on.
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Dec 10th 2012, 15:06
A cogent case made by Dr Bonello. However he might have spared the personal attack and depiction of Mr Anastasi as a pure charlatan historian. Dr Bonello would be shocked to hear that over the years in the University senior common room I have heard GB being described as solely a fact finder within the ranks of the many amateur historians in our island.
Edward Mallia
Dec 10th 2012, 09:35
Dr Bonello is hardly in a position to complain on "historical illiteracy [still earning] rounds of vapid cheering from others equally illiterate". He voted for the Enemalta IPPC permit based on a fraudulent brief given to KPMG who, inputting an error of their own, came to a wrong (but politically desireable) conclusion. To which were added imaginary legal constraints not observed by Enemalta.
matthew tanti
Dec 11th 2012, 13:43
x ghandu x'jaqsam?
John Neville Ebejer
Dec 10th 2012, 08:41
Limit toxic pollutants in Urban areas by reducing the source - plant the right species of trees in approriate places - not allowing damage to your historical sites - protect your health and historical assets - sustainable development by being wise.
In the past no considerations were made when trees were planted - damaging or hiding the bastions. We should be wiser and repair this damage.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 10th 2012, 08:15
Since Dr Bonello gives so much importance to what the original builders of the bastions would have done, could he give us his opinion, in clear terms, about the fact that these same bastions have been left without a gate?
What, in his opinion, would "De Valette" (sic) have had to say about that?
Anthony G Buttigieg
Dec 10th 2012, 02:09
How sad that such a lucid historical rebuttal has to be spoiled with a personal attack. One would expect much better from such a learned gentleman.
Joe Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 21:35
I read Anastasi's article,& while he disagrees with V Bonello,he is not disrespectful &never personal.For Judge Bonellos position,I think that going all the way to writing another opinion piece on the subject,filled with derision,sarcasm and personal comments,it is really beneath him.Is he so proud that he can't take being crossed?
I used to think very highly of Judge Bonello but not any more
Marco Fortinelli
Dec 9th 2012, 21:07
It is saddening to read such an ill- tempered rant from someone who should know better. Such personal attacks assist nobody and obscure the argument.
Carmel Camilleri
Dec 9th 2012, 20:52
If i understood Dr. Bonello well, he wrote that trees should not be planted to spoil the beauty of our bastions.
An other thing. Historical buildings should possibly be preserved in their original state. After all tourists come to Malta amongst other things to admire our bastions and not trees. Of these they have a lot in their countries.
Joe Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 21:40
Carmel Camilleri, tell us, have you ever heard a tourist complain that our bastions are hidden by trees? No and you will not, because there is not more than one tree here and there in front of our bastions. On the other hand, tourists they do complain about lack of trees and green.
This hysterical rant, it is a about the old oaks at City Gate that Renzo Piano wants to remove. Now you see.
Stephan Mifsud
Dec 9th 2012, 22:06
So we have to go to other countries to see trees, just so tourists are happy to see our naked bastions and think that we are still fighting a medieval war? Ask any level headed tourist about the value of trees and he would know. Stop living in the past. Understand what trees do. You need them more than they need you.
Edward Mallia
Dec 9th 2012, 19:50
Are the canons of old military engineers of relevance now? Take Lucca: the complete walls are fronted by lawns except for one small section. But there is a broad way lined with trees all along the top: If the Lucchesi can do that why can't we?
And trees apart, have we heard any squeak from Dr. Bonello about that double carbuncle on the city walls at the the western end of Republic street?
Mark A. Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 20:53
Because we need bastions for our tourism product.
Let's plant trees - millions of them, as Dom Mintoff had wanted - but elsewhere.
Let us have a second, third, even a fourth Buskett. Let us have another Mizieb and more Sant' Anton Gardens (not San Anton for goodness' sake).
But elsewhere, in polluted, built-up areas drowned in a sea of concrete and lost in a mist of carbon monoxide.
Joe Grech
Dec 9th 2012, 21:46
Mr.Sammut,when did you ever hear tourists complain that our bastions are hidden by trees?They do not because the bastions are not.What they DO complain about is the horrible massive Parliament,but somehow,Dr. Bonello he missed the fact that it destroys the bastion line
This is a storm in the teacup,because someone wants to justfiy that Renzo Piano wants to uproot the old oaks outside City Gate
Victor Laiviera
Dec 9th 2012, 17:31
I fail to understand this logic. Yes, very probably the Order would not have tolerated any trees close to the bastions, as they could have screened approaching enemies.
But what has that got to do with today? If the Maltese people want more trees and greenery, it is foolish to deny them because of the military exigencies of 500 years ago.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 9th 2012, 19:43
Agreed, but in the appropriate location.
Victor Laiviera
Dec 10th 2012, 00:59
The "right place" today, not necessarily the "right place" according to the military needs of 500 years ago.
Anna Spiteri
Dec 9th 2012, 16:11
How sad to read such an article from such an esteemed learned gentleman! The crux of the matter remains that Malta is being fast depleted of urban trees whether they are in front of bastions or in a centre strip in Marsa is of no consequence in the scheme of things. The glaring fact remains that justifying the removal of trees in front of bastions is yet another excuse to cut down møre trees!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Dec 9th 2012, 19:42
" With Lapparelli and a few others, I share this prejudice that a right thing in the wrong place becomes a wrong thing."
Clear enough Anna?
Mark A. Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 20:50
We shall plant trees in new built-up areas, in housing estates, on the "highways" and arterial roads, in the Sliema-St.Julian's-Paceville area ... We shall plant trees on the hills, in the valleys, and along the strands ... We shall plant trees, no matter what the cost may be ... hundreds, thousands of them ... but NOT in front of the bastions. We shall never surrender ...
Astrid Vella
Dec 9th 2012, 22:05
MrSammut,in case you hadn't noticed,trees are NOT being planted in the Sliema - Paceville or any other urban area.In fact mature trees have been uprooted from Luqa,Bormla,Senglea,Fgura,Qormi,Marsa,Zebbug,Sliema and Mellieha.So while no one is advocating planting trees in front of the bastions, I think the point being made is that we should be taking care of the few health-giving trees we have.
Stephan Mifsud
Dec 9th 2012, 15:40
Historical correctness does not compare to our health. Maltese have to understand that TREES actively lower toxic pollutants in urban regions. Please wake up! read this study:
http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/newtown_square/publications/other_publishers/OCR/ne_2006_nowak001.pdf
John Neville Ebejer
Dec 9th 2012, 21:19
You can limit toxic pollutants in Urban areas by reducing the source - and plant the right species of trees in the approriate places - not allowing these damage your historical sites - protect your health and historical assets - sustainable development by being wise.
Maltese may understand matters more than you could. This is not a matter of historical correctness.
jacqueline chircop
Dec 9th 2012, 13:00
L-iktar haga li nsib interessanti fejn jidhol id-diskuzzjoni dwar s-sigar fi Malta hi din...."l-gwardjani tal-gost it-tajjeb" qedin intenzjonalment jew le jaghmlu minn Malta desert....Imbaghad wara li jinqerdu is-sigar ( liema sigar li diga huma ftit u certament ma ghandix l-lussu l) meta "jkun opportun" nergu inhawlu ohrajn minflokom( sic...)
Colin Formosa
Dec 9th 2012, 11:35
Ouch.
Mark A. Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 11:20
To me it seems pretty obvious that no serious military engineer would ever suggest planting trees in front of bastions for they would serve as ladders of sorts defeating the primary objective of bastions, namely keeping the enemy out. Trees would serve as a permanent siege machine. All arguments in favour of planting trees in front of bastions thus seem to me self-evidently wrong.
Victor Rodenas
Dec 9th 2012, 15:11
Trees ,trenches ,low walls(hajt tas-sejjiegh)rooms etc will only help the enemy in case of an attack,nothing had to be built in the vicinity of bastions or forts.
Anna Spiteri
Dec 9th 2012, 18:32
Just in case i am asleep and i am not having nightmares. We are living in the 21st century ? And we are not being attacked by the Ottomans ?
Mark A. Sammut
Dec 9th 2012, 20:46
@ Anna Spiteri. Wit brightens one's days, doesn't it?
My point is that HISTORICALLY there was no reason to plant trees in front of bastions.
The Anastasi-Bonello debate is about HISTORY, isn't it?
And historical illiteracy.
Perhaps you woke up late today ... don't worry, it's Sunday.
S Scerri
Dec 9th 2012, 21:57
No,Mr.Sammut it's not all about history.Do we live in a museum? It's about life in the 21st Century,and our health. Ask the residents of Senglea if they would prefer their bastion cleared of trees.They already gave their answer when they protested against the destruction of their trees that provide them with shade,break the winter wind &catch the dust and absorb fumes.Can the bastions do that?
Mario Farrugia
Dec 9th 2012, 11:15
You couldn't have said it any better Dr Bonello. Bravo! It is indeed high time that whoever opts to publicly discuss history does so in an accurate and responsible manner by basing himself on learned knowledge and documented facts not mere fantasy or suppositions. All historic fibs must be challenged.
Please choose the reason of your report below: