The contribution entitled ‘Conspiracy theories’ by Albert Cilia-Vincenti (September 30) only goes to further show how badly we lack identity edification. It may also point to the reason why so very few academics ever bother to correct distorted notions about Maltese history, collective memory and identity appearing in readers’ columns. Do such notions result from naiveté, sheer ignorance of historical facts or mnemonic colonial residue?

For the sake of genuinely interested readers may I share my interpretations backed by scientific research (paper entitled ‘The Great Siege of 1565: aftermath, cultural memory and the Maltese collective identity’ to be published in a volume recording History Week 2015 by the Malta Historical Society) which inter alia refers to the Great Siege of 1565 and how Maltese inhabitants freely adopted the eight-pointed cross of the Order of Malta as their de facto identification symbol after having defended their territory, gave their skilful share to build a respectable city and inspired the commemoration of this assertive memory for generations over four and a half centuries.

As regards the commemoration of the 1798 peasants’ insurrection against the Maltese republican government under French rule, I would humbly refer readers to browse through a University of Malta 2014 publication of my doctoral thesis on the very subject of the Maltese collective memory and identity since 1798. As per the published volume this research is dedicated ‘to the thousands of forgotten patriots on both sides who fell during the unfortunate period of 1798-1800’.