Thursday, 11th December 2008
RIGHT ON OWEN
Some time ago, I took the mickey gently out of my young friend the Hon. Owen Bonnici for his crack about how it would be a good idea for young couples to take each other out for a trial run before tying the knot.
I might have been a tad unfair on the lad, though my tongue was quite firmly in my cheek when I put my thoughts into the ether, a fact that escaped most of the Lil’Elves who wrote to call me names. Dr Bonnici himself, of course, took it all in the spirit in which it was intended, demonstrating that there’s hope for the younger generation yet.
As a true politician, he also appreciates that even mildly annoying publicity such as like what I dish out, generally when the recipient is a Labour politician, is better than no publicity at all.
It seems, forsooth, that Dr Bonnici is getting quite in the hang of things and has found ways and means of getting his name into the media – more power to him, since he’s very much the acceptable face of Labour (arrogant swine, ain’t I?)
His latest little escapade was to have a jolly old moan about how he was forced to give a speech in English because Maltese interpreters were not available. Young Owen, rather than storming off in a high dudgeon, delivered his stuff in English but made it known that he was less than amused by the whole thing.
And, verily, he was right and anyone who says different is a twerp and a knave. Once the EU, in its almost infinite wisdom, accepted (as it should have, after all) Maltese as an official language, it is up to the EU, in between draining wine lakes, melting butter mountains and legislating about the precise angle at which the banana bends, to provide interpreters and there’s no two ways about it.
From a purely utilitarian point of view, I would – were I to have had my ‘druthers – have given thought to selling the notion of allowing English to be considered as our official language to the EU, against a handsome price. This would have had the advantage of getting us some filthy lucre and respecting the reality of things, quite apart from ensuring that the slippage we’re suffering in a proper command of the language being reversed.
On the other hand, all those opportunities for the youth of our nation to work in the field of translation would have been lost, so it’s swings and roundabouts, really and on balance, it’s our language and I, for one, am proud of it.
Now all that’s left is for it to be taught and examined in a way that makes people want to learn it, but that’s another story altogether.
So, Owen Bonnici was right to make a fuss, politely as he did and all the people who commented negatively about this are wrong, completely, utterly and profoundly and I don’t care who says otherwise. I’m all for practicality and being realistic, but what’s good for the Germans, the French, the Italians and anyone else whose language is used in the EU (there’s no way I’m going to mention the less obvious ones, given that if push were to come to shove, I wouldn’t have a clue whether Outer Croatia is in the EU or not) is good for us.
The most inane comment I saw, and the commenter can write in and contradict me all he likes, was the one that poked fun at Dr Bonnici for justifying his cushy job in Brussels. What “cushy job in Brussels”, may I ask? Bonnici is a Maltese MP and a lawyer plying his trade here – he was in Boring Europolis representing all of us, directly or indirectly and if this is a “cushy job in Brussels”, than Brad Pitt is my body double.
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Comments
Still not convinced of injustices suffered by non-nationalists under nationalists in recent years?
Take a look at Destinazzjoni Suċċess on NetTV his Saturday @20:30.
Perfect example for you.
By the way JM, this guy also worked in London (Canada for a while).
:)
>But ... I don't think so! And I wonder why!
- Because quite a few of us did NOT see only 'sufferance' (sic!)in those days but much good too.
- Because quite a few of us suffered BEFORE the 'dark ages' (sic!) and immediately after.
- Because quite a few of us are STILL suffering today. Both physically and mentally.
- Because some of us have a DIFFERENT version of history therefore to what others wish to paint.
You say :
>You want people to be staunch, diehard as yourself, so that you can stop wrestling with your conscience
I say, actually no. I speak for myself (and I repeat) that:
- Both sides had people who suffered/are sufering, no doubt.
- it was NOT all one sided as some will have us believe.
- If the past must be mentioned it must be mentioned in TOTO and undistorted.
but personally, I prefer to talk of the PRESENT SUTUATION rather than wallow in the (distorted) past. The present interests me more than the past (which we wil never agree upon ,it seems).
Nowhere did I mention revenge. So, please be so kind as to NOT put words in my mouth, so to speak.
The difference between people like you (diehards, staunch Labourites and Nationalists) and myself is that you are blinded. Very simply, I am not! And the effect that I am not is that I am criticised by all and sundry - it matters not, to me, hehe!
Oh yes, and by the way, I do not 'fall flat on my face'. That's because you, like a few others, cannot stand honest, well-meaning apolitical people, do you? You want people to be staunch, diehard as yourself, so that you can stop wrestling with your conscience. You shoot down any messenger who is apolitical and who says things as he sees them without fear or favour. I DO have my traditionally-favoured Party, owing to what I went through in 1971-1987. In my opinion, every HONEST citizen should have voted that Party out! But ... I don't think so! And I wonder why!
On numerous occasions I had vehemently condemned ALL political violence, moral and physical, corruption and discrimination that had marred our otherwise noble-spirited political past without excluding anybody. In spite of my efforts I am being categorised within the same crass of certain people who vainly try to perpetuate the 'one-each' idea; this is blatantly unfair.
No to revenge as two wrongs would never make a right and who can honestly blame me when I look back and see the wrong doings of all our political gamut, not excluding the church’s? Would I be true to myself if I were to only condemn the PN injustices and overlook the PL’s? Likewise would anybody be correct to magnify the PL’s past mistakes and ignore the PN’s as they consider the latter ‘petty’ simply because they were not the victims? I may be a staunch Labourite as they come but I am not such a hypocrite to portray my party as pure and not blemished by its past. Some supporters from both sides and even some who call themselves apolitical try that but each time they fall flat on their face.
Mr. Franco Farrugia wrote. Quote “I do not let my emotions run away with me. Christmas or no Christmas, facts are facts and there is no denying them.
Indeed, it is useless trying to discuss with certain people who vainly try to perpetuate the 'one-each' idea! It does not hold! Never! Not in a thousand years, it will not” Unquote.
I think that this message, full of anger, was meant to reach me but since it was posted generically I shall treat it and respond accordingly.
Indeed, it is useless trying to discuss with certain people who vainly try to perpetuate the 'one-each' idea! It does not hold! Never! Not in a thousand years, it will not.
Sad fact is that both sides had been the sacrificial lambs irrespective of who had suffered most. You seem to have a different opinion, stick to it, I don’t mind but please try to be a little more civil with those of different opinions than yours.
Finally, who do you think you are to elevate yourself above others by claiming that you are different and using phrases like “its useless trying to convert those who refuse to be converted? So, I will stop here.” Are you easily converted Sir?
Anyway its Christmas time so after having said my piece I’ll embrace the Season’s spirit.
Happy Xmas to all.
What’s disgusting about my statement that “Maybe it’s because I’m a Labourite but for me hell was 1987 to 1996. However 1971-1987 must had also been hell to others because they are still pained about it. What a pity considering our political achievements throughout both eras!”
No I did not have it SO good prior to 1987 when half of Malta was writhing under the duress of Mintoff and KMB but for me it wasn’t so bad either. It’s just what you said- it was half of Malta that was writhing under duress at that time. Did I ever justify the wrong doings of the 1971-1987 injustices and political violence? But can anybody deny that 1987-1996 was also very unpleasant for Labour supporters? I belong to the other half that our writhing started in 1987.
Being so close to Christmas, a season of Peace, hopefully throughout the world, I shall resist from entering into stinging debates here and elsewhere for the coming few weeks.
I extend my best wishes to all Nationalists, Labourites, Greens and all other hues, a most Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
Let us all dare be optimistic in the new year, counting the blessings we have especially the priceless gift of living in a democracy and faring not too badly compared to other nations.
Let us not forget the much less fortunate, the children (and adults) in third world countries who suffer from starvation daily and from preventable and curable diseases which are almost unknown in the Maltese Islands.
Let us be, even with our limited means, instruments of peace. Sometimes even the smallest of gestures becomes infectious and induces others to match and improve and ultimately removes barriers to peace which had appeared insurmountable in the past.
Let all enjoy a most pleasant holiday season with family and friends.
May I express my total respect for your writings and sorrow at your pain resulting from a period when you saw 'half of Malta writhing under the duress of Mintoff and KMB'.
I have no doubt that you call a spade that which you see as being a spade.
I too lived those times and while ultimately i was and remain a mintoffian, i like many mintoffians, experienced the good with the bad; the bad including duress and other unpleasentaries (no doubt we can share many anecdotes as with post-87 experience).
I do not endorse the impression that half lived/live in heaven and half in hell. It was and remains a (very) mixed pot.
Like you, i want to believe that i call a spade a spade. Yet some times i realise that the spade i see is actually a spoon ar a ladle.
I honestly pray that you come to terms with the past and that you find relative serenity in a world full of irony and contradiction.
i hope that you do not find my words patronising. I would like to think that i am inspired by a desire for internal peace in a difficult world.
Dear sir, your explanation clears the air and portrays a reality, and sentiments i fully endorse.
J.H. wrote:
December 16, 2008 18:30
Wow... a gazillion comments and still nobody claiming that it was all Washington's (preferably the Democrats') fault? Maybe the times are a-changing.
http://www.economist.com/finance/displayStory.cfm?story_id=12795543&source=features_box2&mode=comment&intent=readBottom
So it is not true ... only in malta :D LOL!
When you claim that for you, hell was 1897 to 1996, you disgust me. You disgust me for, in your own words, you must really have had it good prior to 1987 when half of Malta was writhing under the duress of Mintoff and KMB.
However, it is December - Christmastime, and anyway, it's useless trying to convert those who refuse to be converted. So, I will stop here.
Maybe it’s because I’m a Labourite but for me hell was 1987 to 1996. However 1971-1987 must had also been hell to others because they are still pained about it. What a pity considering our political achievements throughout both eras!
Your sentence wasn’t misinterpreted it was misrepresented although not intended. No harm was done; on the contrary it gave us a good opportunity to see the good stuff you are made of. Well done.
I am not apolitical and my political as well as spiritual sentiments are left off centre that make me very comfortable to vote Labour. I have a great deal of respect for a lot of the PN exponents nothing less than I have for those within the PL. There are some top brass in both parties that send shivers down my spine but you find these in all institutions and thanks to our proportional representative system we are given the option to choose the best available from the candidates of the party we support.
Malta has achieved a lot since Independence but we had failed miserable when it comes to political maturity. We must learn to tolerate the opposing views of others and mustn’t be afraid to be forthright when we feel justified to criticise the political party which we support. A new approach in that direction would make this lovely country of ours a much happier place to live in.
BUT IT CERTAINLY W-A-S HELL! SORRY, NO OTHER WAY ABOUT IT!
>All parties and organisations have persons who give their life and soul to their organisation in a unselfish and totally dedicated way....
>...amongst such good people you always find the opportunists....
>Honest, dedicated individuals are not the prerogative of any party,as indeed are intelligence and leadership qualities......
>A country moves forward only if each party pushes and promotes its best elements forward.
Hear, Hear!
Might I also add that a country moves forward when one BUILDS on the good points that someone else (yes even the opposition!) has done before you.
Its time to:
-stop living in the past.
-stop painting today as paradise by painting yesterday as hell.
-justifying today's mistakes by trying to point the (partial) past and that therefore - by default - if something was done in the past then its ok for something else to be happening today.
- to come up with FRESH ideas to solve TODAY's problems rather than hiding them under the carpet and hope that they will disappear.
>As an independent this is why I have no qualms in promoting the best politicians independently of their party allegiance.
Agreed.
Its spirit would have been understood much better if I had just stated ." If only persons hovering round centres of power had his fine qualities.".
All parties and organisations have persons who give their life and soul to their organisation in a unselfish and totally dedicated way. They are the unsung heroes, the mainstays of any organisation. However amongst such good people you always find the opportunists and those who do not realise that their time is up
When you praise someone there is always the danger that those who were not the direct recepients of your praise may feel that implicitly you are criticising them which should certainly not be the case. We Maltese need to give more disinterested praise to the deserving.
Honest, dedicated individuals are not the prerogative of any party,as indeed are intelligence and leadership qualities.
A country moves forward only if each party pushes and promotes its best elements forward.
As an independent this is why I have no qualms in promoting the best politicians independently of their party allegiance.
How can one disagree with Albert Leone Ganado that “If only all those hovering round the centre of power in the PL had his qualities then the party would have a much better chance of achieving its objectives”? But does this only applies to the PL? Doesn’t the same statement also applies to the PN and the rest of our political gamut?
I don’t think that anybody could be so negatively predisposed to think that the party in opposition is full of people with easy virtues and the PN is so rich in that area. I know quite a few politicians who are blessed with Owen’s strengths on both sides of our political hierarchy but we need more of his type in both sides.
I don’t think that Albert Leone Ganado was trying to compare the PL with the PN as the gentleman strikes me to be one of high intellect and is aware that comparisons are odious; perhaps one may have misread his sweeping statement. Or..........has one?
dear sir, i find your testimony to dr bonnici's qualities as inspiring;
On the other hand i find amazing your statement
Quote If only all those hovering round the centre of power in the PL had his qualities unquote
qualities you list as honesty and capability, a questioning mind, honesty and willingness to debate issues with an open mind and in the most civil of ways...
dear sir, while I hold you in high esteem, may i suggest that when opting for such a sweeping statement, you may perhaps be more specific so that you avoid putting in bad light hundreds of labour activists who honestly, intelligently and professionally commit to the service of their country.
It seems like I have been censored twice and do not appear to enjoy the right to respond to your asinine and inane comments.
You can now creep under that little rock of yours.
I attended working groups in Brussels, and there were Latvian, Italian, Spanish, Greek interpreters for participants from these countries and others...but never Maltese interpreters.
So what did you mean by,
"Thus within EU institutions, meetings, working groups and all that, these are the only three languages that may be used ?
Envy the young?
Dr. Owen Bonnici LLD, MP, has been appointed shadow Minister Youths and Sports. He is under 30.
Unusually high-achieving young people can have an interesting effect on other people. Anyone younger than 35, for instance, might feel their time to succeed is running out. Anyone older than 40 might feel that's it, they're past it, over the hill.
True terror is to wake up one morning and discover that young people, junior enough to be younger than your children are running the country.
If only all those hovering round the centre of power in the PL had his qualities then the party would have a much better chance of achieving its objectives
That's "gender specific"
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacific.
No candy, no sweets, that's bad for the tooth;
Nothing that dares to embellish the truth
"Fairy tales" though not quite forbidden
Were, like Barbie, better left hidden,
They raise the hackles of types psychological
who claim that good gifts must be ecological.
No baseball, no football ... one could get hurt
Exposing their players to grime and the dirt.
Dolls are now "sexist" and definitely passe'.
So Santa stood there, bewildered, perplexed
Just could not figure what to do next.
He tried to be merry, tried to be "gay"
On second thought, avoided that word.
His sack remained empty, limp on the ground.
No gift was acceptable, no gift that he might
Give to those on the left to those on the right,
A gift satisfying without indecision
All groups of people of any religion,
Every ethnicity, colour or hue
Everyone, every where and that includes you.
So here is a gift that is priced beyond worth
"May you and your loved ones have Christ's peace on earth."
How to survive as "politically correct"
His workers no longer answer to "Elves"
"Vertically challenged" they now call themselves.
Labour conditions at the north pole
Are decried by the Unions as freezing the soul.
Four reindeer have vanished without much propriety
Released to the wild by the Humane Society
"Equal 'pportunity" have made it quite clear
Santa had better not always use deer
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Gave way to four pigs, no matter how stupid.
Runners removed from old Santa's sleigh
'Cos deemed dangerous by the PTA
And people were calling the cops
Because of sled noises on the rooftops.
Second hand smoke from Santa's pipe
Had his workers protesting
and his "fur" trimmed red suite
was quite unenlightened.
Half the reindeer are gone, and the Wife
Suddenly decided "Enough of this life!"
Joined self-help groups, packed up in a whiz
Demanding henceforth must be called Ms.
As for gifts he'd no notion
Choosing them would cause such commotion
Nothing of leather, nothing with fur,
That's nothing for "him" nothing for "her"
Nothing "polluting" nothing that "aims"
Nothing that clamoured making noise,
Nothing "for girls" nothing "for boys"
'but since your glasses seem to be over tinted, you misread what I wrote.' >> FF: MY glasses are over tinted!!!!!!!!!!! Grosssssss!!!!!!!
'Besides, I commented on K Mifsud's remarks and I am quite sure that he/she can answer directly instead of seeking a zatat to do it for him/her.' >> FF ' Moi, a 'zatat'!!!!!! Again, Grossssssss!!!!!!! A case of the pot calling the cattle black? Or rather, l-ispizja milli jkollu jtik?
'You obviously do not read all I write' >> FF: indeed, I do not, and the same applies to you.
You just need to look under 'Blogs' to notice that you have 'Alfred Grixti' which is clearly a LP representative, thirdly you have Fr Joe Borg which is a representative of the church and then you have other persons which represents culture, the students and so on. But hey! There is something missing in the equation. Where is the PN representative? I see two possibilities: either there is none, or there is a -not so- covert one. You need not be De Fermat to discover the value of 'X'.
There are also obvious contraints with respect to Maltese. In spite of all the good will in the world the truth is that there isn't a sufficient number of Maltese interpreters to satisfy demand, meaning that you may ask but may not get!
As ABC rightly says, what's good for the French, Spanish, Dutch, Danes, Swedes is good for the Maltese. So why can't we expect to be given the same treatment? After all do you genuinely believe that delegates from these countries can't express themselves in a 2nd language?
Do you genuinely believe that Maltese still hold some sort of monopoly over the use of the English language?
Wake up guys, the World around us is changing and we're still in deep slumber, erroneously believing that we're god's gift to the anglophone world!!
The EU Commission is only one of many EU Institutions.
I hope that subsequently you'd understand why your statement "EU HAS ONLY THREE WORKING LANGUAGES" is utter nonsense. Since when??
"Thus within EU institutions, meetings, working groups and all that, these are the only three languages that may be used - understandably! It is only when communication is directed at the citizens that official languages come into play."
Now that the oil price has gone down to about $43 per barrel how about Austin keeping his word. I strongly suspect that the water and electricity astronomical prices in Malta have nothing to do with oil price but the PN wants to compensate for the pre-election waste as an electoral gimmick.
The PL was criticised so much by the Nationalists for planning a drainage tax . Now what are they going to say after the Gonzipn gov will have a worse tax . Nothing at all because a PN U-turn is a nice thing!!
Can't the PN even be trusted in drainage matters ....
And here we are swallowing bocca's bait.
The bottom line is that those who used to spout libellous untruths with careless abandon are now beginning to mind their language!
By Dr Saliba
Please be warned that I am reserving my rights at law to defend myself from any more libels.
Fr Joe Borg
Please be informed that i won a libel case because of a comment similar to the one you made alleging that I compared Malta to Beirut. I will let your reference go by with just this warning without any prejudice to my rights at law. Now that you are warned be more careful. Do not be repeat myths. If you do please note that you will be doing so at your own risk.
By Charles J Buttigieg
You lost that court case and if you feel that I am being unfaithful to these facts you can take me to court
“UNTILL THE NEXT PROGRAMME ITS TIME FOR SOMETHING EXTRA.”
Hi hi hi
Some interesting cuts.
By Mr. Martinelli
Obviously, Mr. Buttigieg must have no use for 'templates' as his regular correspondence deals with so many varied subjects that the use of a template would be totally useless.
By Mr Franco Tedesco
He he he, look who s talking
By Mr. Franco Farrugia
Mr Martinelli - Why is it that you must comment on things which you simply have no idea about?
By Ms. Carmen Attard
It's these kinds of insults to our intelligence that made me and my family distance us from the PN.
By Mr. Martinelli
You obviously do not read all I write because you would have noticed that I criticized JPO's intervention regarding the proposal by the St. John Cathedral Foundation. Unlike you, I am not as one sided as you think.
Nowhere did I criticize Dr. Bonnici, but since your glasses seem to be over tinted, you misread what I wrote.
Besides, I commented on K Mifsud's remarks and I am quite sure that he/she can answer directly instead of seeking a zatat to do it for him/her.
You obviously do not read all I write because you would have noticed that I criticized JPO's intervention regarding the proposal by the St. John Cathedral Foundation. I am not as one sided as you think.
You would be singing a different tune, had it been a Nationalist MP. But whatever Labourites say and do is wrong in your eyes.
Well, we know what you stand for, don't we? Yeah, all too well, we do!
There was no interpreting coverage for the Hon. Member simply because, strangely enough, not all meetings at the European institutions are covered by Maltese interpreters!
As for your comment about whether it was due to some negligence 'on the part of the MT contingent', do you think that the MT interpreters just go where they feel like it and interpret anyone on whom they pick their fancy? Interpreters are hired and sent where they must go, full-stop!
I am very glad and really happy to read DR ABC in proving the Hon. Member right. Yes, Hon. Bonnici was right in making a fuss - on the other hand, shame on all those delegates, including Ministers, who go to these institutions, know fully well that there are MT interpreters in the booth, yet, stand up to speak in English. It is disgusting and a slap in the face at the huge steps we have made these past years to have the Maltese language present and alive in these institutions!
"EU HAS ONLY THREE WORKING LANGUAGES, English, French and German.... Malta's situation is just like Italy, Spain and Poland's"
Very true, but have other speakers from Italy, Spain or Poland, been barred from speaking in their own language?
I think the question which should be asked is WHY was there no Maltese interpreter? Was it negligence by the Maltese contingent in Brussels or was the EU remiss by not making sure that one was available for Dr. Bonnici's speech in Maltese?
Was Dr. Bonnici informed of the reason why he was not allowed to continue in Maltese and if so, he should have clearly understood and not make a big issue out of a situation which should be known to all who address EU committees. Should speakers not inform the committee beforehand what language they plan to use in their addresses? Maybe, as ABC opined, 'Dr Bonnici is getting quite in the hang of things and has found ways and means of getting his name into the media'.
That being the case, all this amounts to a tempest in a teacup, soon to be forgotten, but preferably such a situation can be avoided in the future.
I got tobe honest with you, when I read the article in timesofmalta.com I said to myself: "Hey, what are these Brussle sprouts up to now? Maltese is a recognised EU language and as such our Maltese politicians have every right to deliver their speeches in Maltese".
I then read the same comments you read ABC, and after 2 or 3 comments, I couldn't be bothered to continue reading them. Why? Because as usual, an argument in Malta is down to politics. Becasue he has a cushy job, our taxes should be spent on other things and not on interpreters, etc etc... very annoying.
So now, when I read this article, and told to myself "Ok, I'm not out of my mind, or at least I'm not the only one!".
I would also like to say a big WELL DONE to Owen Bonnici. Thanks for representing us 400,000 europeans in Brussels....(btw, have they the copyright on sprouts???)
- That's quite a militant position to take when you may not know all the facts!
You see, it is true that the EU has 21 official languages, including Maltese. However, an official language is simply a language used to communicate with citizens (including in law-making).
However, the EU HAS ONLY THREE WORKING LANGUAGES, English, French and German.
Thus within EU institutions, meetings, working groups and all that, these are the only three languages that may be used - understandably! It is only when communication is directed at the citizens that official languages come into play.
In other words, Malta's situation is just like Italy, Spain and Poland's, to name a few. Our language is an official language, but not a working language within the EU institutions. And that is only natural - otherwise 18 other interpreters will have to be paid to attend each single internal EU working group, out of our tax money.