Here follows a compilation of comments received in the ‘Ask James‘ page in the July-to-August period that weren’t replied to in an elaborate enough fashion to warrant their own posts. The quality of such compilations are determined by the readership in their inquisitive capacity. Two questions received and expanded upon are not included here but are included in the ‘Ask James‘ category.

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Sandro Vella: Kemm iggerrih fil-gurnata?

Ask James.

Me: That is a question of an unreasonable nature… ^_~

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Tony V: Ghalfejn dejjem tikteb bl-ingliz inti? Mela mintix malti bhalna?

Me: Hello TonyV,

Yes I do happen to be Maltese. The primary reason as to why I always tend to write in the English language is due to my superior grasp of the language relative to that of the Maltese language. I also believe that the ability to convey a message is far more important within any discourse than the language that one chooses to convey it in.

Secondly since Malta supposedly has two official languages, an international functional language and a local cultural language, it suits me fine to select the language that one not only expresses oneself most naturally within, but also results in the widest and furthest reach possible.

I hope that will suffice as a reply. :c)

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Sandra: Why do you pick on the Nationalists only? Labour have done much worse in the past.

And I don’t like your site. You have nothing better to do?

Me: Hello Sandra,

I do not actually “pick on the Nationalists”. You will hopefully have noticed that I am not flinging mud upon them but placing qualified criticisms. I also do not reserve criticism for the Nationalists alone, although I do believe that the Nationalists ought to bear the brunt of my criticisms, having practically been in a position of power for a couple of decades now, bar one or two years.

While it somewhat saddens me to know that you do not like my web log I do humbly point to the several links on the side-bar leading out of this site. I am confident that you will find something more suited to your taste. I am, of course, open to suggestions for improvement. :c)

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Michael Falzon: X’tahseb fuq l-ijuni tal-bidla James?

Sindy: James are you single?

“James Cauchi”: emmm Sindy if you’re single I am …….

Me: Michael Falzon,
Honestly I do not have any opinion about the so-called lions of change. I am skeptical, being of the belief that the Labour party is at least moderately infiltrated by the Nationalist party, and that therefore we have a one-party system posing as a two-party system… but it would be early for me to assess the reds in their apparent new form.

That was a short answer but for as far as parties are concerned my primary stand is that no population should have to feel captive to it/ them.

Oh, and for the record ‘James Cauchi’, the real James Cauchi would sound more along the lines of:

“Hello Sindy,

I do happen to be single as of at this time.”

I’d probably have inserted a bunch of other lines to weigh it up, but consider it highly suspicious that 3 questions came through in the space of 2 minutes. I guess a ‘lion of change’ paid me a visit. ^_~

Majjal ta’veru: James of course it is a joke, we (you know us) tried to pull a fast one :)

Me: No worries. ^_~

This question was put forward by Simon in a comment on the ‘Ask James‘ page.

Simon: - James, as the mainstream parties political continue to move towards the centre, would you say that political ideology still has a realistic place in Maltese politics?

Me: - As regards the mainstream political parties, it is true that their policies seem to be heading towards a common mono-rail. However at times I have been given reason to question whether it is truly two political parties whose’ manoeuvres we are witness to and not a puppet act; with the Labour party thus far playing the puppet, seemingly taking a fall at too many important junctures in the past decade to shrug off as mere misfortune.

1998 - Was Labour taking the heat for utility price rises and CET to pave the way for the Nationalist’s surcharge and VAT increases?

2003 - Was “Switzerland in the Mediterranean/ Partnership” ever properly explained? Why were voters against EU-entry instructed to split their vote (don’t vote, spoil the vote, etc.)?

2008 - How did Labour retain Alfred Sant as leader and manage to lose the election… again? Who kept him there and why? Isn’t it interesting just how friendly and comfortable the Nationalists seem to be with the new leader?

Would you like a cheese burger or a hamburger Mr. Voter? 9_9

…But that wasn’t your question. ;c)

I would say that political ideology not only has a realistic place in Maltese politics but that the Maltese Islands are desperately in need of ideology. Without ideology reality is destined to deteriorate as you would get little progress (progress itself resulting from ideological processes).

Unfortunately I do not believe that the Maltese Islands have sufficient ideology in politics. This has resulted in a knock-on effect. Without political ideology there is no means by which a population can truly relate to the structures of governance that they have endorsed. The people become apathetic, just as they are today. The people worry about the cost of food and the lowness of the wages - important - but miss the wood for the trees. Tuna does not give a human being a purpose in life and neither does a one-Euro increase in wages (though welcome). What gives a human a feeling of purpose in life is to feel that one belongs, that one matters, that one has a role that one has chosen and that one will be appreciated for, that one is able to grow within their society, rather than wither beneath the jealous, vindictive or malign stares of others.

Realism can give Malta more of the same, and a practical means to achieve - but without ideology the best that one can aim to achieve is what one already is… and as they say, you need to aim for the mountains to reach the peak of a hill.

Do let me know if I fall short of answering your question in any way. :c)

Simon: - No, you haven`t fallen short at all. I appreciate another informed and well-expressed opinion. Like you, I would like to see political ideology return to the domain of political debate or, failing that, for the political actors to just come out and admit that they have no ideological convictions if that is the case.

At the moment, it seems that they want to have their cake and eat it by paying lip service to the ideological traditions in order to curry favour with certain parts of the electorate but essentially ignoring it when it comes to governance.

Me: - You’re welcome and thank you for another excellent question. While things do not look positive for the future of Maltese politics, what with both sides of the mainstream party locking down upon power in whatever means they deem necessary (under the pretence of “strengthening democracy”…). Indeed it seems that they are having their cake and they are eating it and this cannot very well be denied considering the mess that I witnessed at the counting halls during the last election.

However defeatism never ever brought about progress even in the most seemingly hopeless hollows.

This question was put forward by Simon in a comment on the ‘Ask James‘ page.

Simon: - James, is Satanism a problem in Malta? If so, what can be done to tackle it?

Me: - Hello Simon.

While I am of the impression that there is a presence of Satanism in Malta I am also of the impression that public opinion on the matter has been sculpted by a Roman Catholic manipulated media and is hence likely not as reliable as one would be led to believe.

For instance, the article carried on illum a month or so ago about “Satan” being born in Mater Dei hospital was an exercise in misinformation and sensationalism - the child was born to a Pagan mother who, as an individual of a different religion, refused access to the child for the clergy on-site. It naturally doesn’t help that Pagans are sometimes mistaken for Satanists if they aren’t too overly careful about blending into Catholic society.

There is also the misconception that every person who wears black and a few piercings, tattoos or trinkets is probably a Satanist, which again is taking public perception a lot further than the bounds of logic.

Is Satanism a problem in and of itself? It is, to the Roman Catholic institution, but Satanism is an anti-religion and is therefore itself a sect of Catholicism. What the Catholic institution should do therefore is ask itself this same question and look within for the answer.

My own stand on the matter is that an individual is entitled to believe, or not believe, whatever he or she wishes to - even in some divine fluffy dice in the sky, if they should wish to choose to. However I also am of the stand that religious freedom should begin and end with the individual and should not cross the threshold into state or active influence of the state as this is where there lies the greatest potential of subjugating minorities as the Catholic Church has done within Malta (Just one example in the form of a question: - should the academic future of a child be jeopardized by a compulsory religion exam should that child fail?).

In conclusion Satanism in and of itself is not the problem per se, it is the acts of Satanism that contradict the rights of others that are potentially the problem and this is where action should be aimed. Trying to raise the status of minority religions to the point of permitting non-socially invasive shrines is one thing that I would like to see done as I suspect that there do exist minorities whom are forced to the fringes of society in order to practice whatever legitimate worship that they would wish to practice.

I hope that that long-winded response sufficiently answers your question. :c)

Simon: - Thank you very much for your informed and detailed response. It has provided ample food for thought and given me some previously unconsidered perspective on the issue.

You’re welcome Simon and thank you for such an interesting question.