I have no doubt that the letters to the editor exercise is an excellent practice in journalistic education. Some media, however, such as Maltarightnow, do not provide this service to readers. In 2008, reader participation in the construction of a public medium is indispensable.

Of course, prudence must be used in this facility provided. I have the impression that some letter writers write daily several comments to all the media and blogs. When I see certain names, I simply skip the contribution as I am not excited by patronising. Sometimes I read a paper very early in the morning, hoping that certain individuals are still asleep and have not obsessively started to bombard the papers and blogs with their dozens of daily comments. But these hysterical people never sleep and are clicking away on their PC 24 hours per day. Pity please... don't persecute us!

Internet for teachers

I think that everybody agrees that there is a difference between a child and an adult. There is also a difference between a teacher and a student. A teacher is not expected to simply obtain his/her pedagogy degree and embark on a long routine of teaching conservatively for the rest of his/her life. Without continuous research, a teacher is simply a child minder. Many schools nowadays have an internet service for teachers who can search for the latest information related to their work. The problem is that whoever is responsible for the provision of this service treats teachers like kids as many research sites are inaccessible. I have been in European schools where this is not the case. Maltese teachers are justified when complaining about chaperonage.

European credentials

Political introversion belongs to the dark ages when women and young people were not allowed to vote and when rich people possessing tons of judgment had more than one vote. It is nowadays impossible to be a politician without possessing a vast knowledge of European matters. This does not simply imply knowing more about Europe for the sake of personal enrichment. Local political decisions are very often tied to European ones. It is indispensable for any local politician to be vastly aware of European structures and institutions - ideally by spending a lot of time there. It is absolutely necessary for any politician present and future to be involved in European politics and administrative structures. The days when being a politician required simply an interest in village tradition are gone.

Writers' self-esteem

Somebody told me an incredible story about an open skirmish between a journalist and another writer - which took place in front of a foreign diplomat if you don't mind. It seems as if the lady called the journalist "short" and the latter delivered a blitzkrieg of compliments about the lady's esthetic (or lack of) qualities.

In the game of writing, I do not see any correlation between physical form and expression. Being fat, short, tall or wiry will not automatically help in being harmoniously involved in journalism. What is sure is that this profession requires people with sufficient self-esteem. This shows very well in the way people write. If your writing is full of anger and aggressivity, it is very obvious that you do not have self-esteem and that you are compelled to transfer your unhappiness onto instant adversaries. I see absolutely no reason for anybody not to have self-esteem. If one is short and fat in the Mediterranean, this is very normal. This region does not usually produce Scandinavian Vikings. If you are a Berbero-Mediterranean female in Malta, this is also quite normal. I have come across too many people who are full of anger because of their looks, which make them unhappy and their stabbing, sad pens furious at everyone. But this is very stupid. Real beauty is in the heart.

Moanin' and groanin'

Some people have complained about the fact that a few tourists faced legal discipline for being topless on the beach. Empty arguments such as "We are in 2008 not in the Middle Ages", "We are in Europe" and "We are not Iran" have been heard from sarcastic critics of Christian democracy. Some ungrateful citizens can only see the dark side of things. They don't say that if we had the boss of Opus Dei or the Spanish Inquisition instead of the Catholic Action people would be arrested even for wearing a faldetta on the beach. So cut the insipid ungratefulness, will you!

Swieqi development

From a large agricultural plus empty area, Swieqi has grown into a large town. Hopefully agriculture, public gardens and other aspects of love for horticulture will remain in this developing town.

Some realities take long to penetrate the minds of authorities. I have corresponded for years with public transport authorities, explaining to them that Swieqi is no longer a hamlet and that thousands live there while hundreds of housemaids and other workers make their way to Swieqi daily. I have explained to transport authorities that it is not logical for the only bus, number 64, that enters Swieqi to stop at Paceville and that Swieqi residents often find themselves unable to board their bus. I have suggested that bus 64, as was done when it was started, bypasses Paceville if it is supposed to be a real service to Swieqi residents. I thought that this was as simple as ABC. But try convincing the transport authorities - whose logic is apparently very different from that of stranded commuters.

Sir Anthony

Very little has not been said about the national approval of Sir Anthony Mamo as President of the Republic. He loved the worker, appreciated Maltese culture and was a definite altruist. Most people today wish to have another President with these qualities for the sake of national unity. I believe that a President should also be nominated following a two-thirds approval of a proposed candidate by Parliament.

Promises and cooperation

I very much agreed with gonzipn's electoral promise No. 258, among others, under the heading Iktar trasparenza [More Transparency], that appointments on government boards will be made following a public call for applications. The reason I totally support this is that everybody agrees that in Malta we only have human resources.

Meanwhile, it seems that several boards have been constituted without public calls for application. Perhaps the DOI can indicate where these public calls were published - unless this is just a case of expecting cooperation without keeping promises.

Dr Licari teaches psycholinguistics, sociolinguistics and geolinguistics at the Department of French of the University of Malta.