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Tuesday 11 September 2012

We're lacking that proverbial pinch of salt.



In a country where freedom of speech is present on paper yet interpreted in various ways, it is no shocker that the Nationalist Party is pushing for Rachel Tua's resignation over a silly photo.

Prime Minister Dr Gonzi depicted as Muammar Gaddafi - shared on Facebook by Rachel Tua, Labour's Equal Opportunities Officer and Labour Councillor.

Is the photo ridiculous? Certainly. Is it unprofessional for a politician to make fun of the Prime Minister in such a tacky way? Probably. Is it insensitive? Maybe. Those coming up with this brilliant idea seem to forget that it was their beloved ex-leader who was all chummy-chummy with the ex-Libyan leader. However, that's beside the point.

Why should Ms Tua resign? Why was Joe Grima made to resign for speaking his mind in light of what was said regarding Dom Mintoff's death? As ridiculous or blasphemous as it may be, everyone should, or rather, HAS the right to utter what they like. What some people fail to realise is that everyone has the same opportunity to speak their mind nowadays... One has two options when faced with something they don't like: ignore or retaliate. It's as simple as that.

This picture isn't saying that Dr Gonzi has a penchant for Asian prostitutes - that might be deemed libellous and may call for action. This picture is mere satire, and God knows we need to lighten up on this uptight little pebble. You see politicians being made fun of ad nauseum abroad. It's high time that the Maltese learnt to take this kind of thing with a pinch of salt.

Seriously.

Monday 3 September 2012

Cancer is a serious matter. Let's treat it as such, please.

Prof. Stephen Brincat was an esteemed and highly-thought-of professor. There were several reasons why people had to look up to him with reverence and utmost respect. First and foremost, needless to say, was the astounding reputation that preceded him.

Unfortunately, the use of the 'was' is imperative here. 

As he is certainly well aware of, the Oncology department is perhaps one of the most delicate ones and deserves to be handled sensibly. For that very reason, his latest tantrums neither befit a person of his calibre, nor do they the department.

When he alleged - so nonchalantly, to worsen matters - that some have died due to sheer negligence ("chemo toxicity") on part of the supposed experts, he should have known that he would hurt people. Not everyone is an expert, as he knows very well. Who will explain to those still mourning that their mother, brother, sister, or cousin wasn't supposed to have left them so prematurely?

In other words, how will people be sure that their dead ones really received the best treatment possible? Are we to start doubting doctors when some patients do not make it through an operation?

No, we should not, because Prof. Brincat has clearly stated that those deaths occurred due to the fact that the Gozo Hospital does not provide its patients with doctors who are proficient enough in the field. He has not, though, come forward with cast-iron facts. Nothing is yet tangible; people will merely discuss these allegations at length. And you know the Maltese, these allegations, with the passing of time, will be thought of as veracious facts.

However, the same professor fails to realise that he was the Head of Department when this wrongdoing was taking place. If he is as earnest as he wants this nation to believe, he must tell us why it is only now that he is acquainting the people with the disastrous service they are apparently being given.

Couldn't he have said such things before? Early enough, perhaps, to avoid the alleged deaths? One would not want to think that this venerated professor is only doing this because his words on certain matters were not deemed decisive, as he was expecting them to be.

The Minister of Health said he has already started looking into the matter. In all honesty, for the sake of this professor and all the progress in the Oncology department, one hopes the outcome of this investigation will bear him out. It would be pitiable to think of him as capricious 

Sunday 2 September 2012

When Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...

It's ever so refreshing to find people who can actually sit pretty at a desk and write interesting blogposts for others to read. 

However, since Dr Franco Debono is neither able to sit pretty nor manages to write anything of substance, it would be better for him to get his act together and stop being such a nuisance. He should have realised by now (or must people spell things out?) that even Labour have lost interest in him

(On another note, one hopes he won't ever need to resort to writing in his life. Or at least nothing in English... deciphering that is an arduous task.)

Acting all hissy, throwing diva-like tantrums, making mistakes and outrageous faux pas, putting your team in distress... each and every one of these is a very serious matter in its own right, indeed. Having all of them converging in one individual is merely a lethal concoction. 

Unfortunately, that's exactly what we have in Dr Debono. 

He doesn't know what to do now that he's committed political suicide. He's reluctant to make any decisions because he's too afraid of facing the repercussions. And if you really think he's scared of Malta going through a rough time, well, then it shows you haven't yet figured out the man. 

He's shattered and devastated. Not because he won't be able to help the Maltese and these islands, no. He's just flustered because he's worked hard to finish that Law course to be on a par with the others (but that's another story altogether) and fought hard to infiltrate in what he believes is some sort of elite circle (politics), and is now too panicked because the wind is blowing harder and harder and that castle of cards is about to collapse. 

You can't really blame him. He's been brought up that way. And you can't teach an old dog new tricks, can you?

He's been banned from the PN. He brought that onto himself. It's useless of him to threaten to sue and bla and bla. It's all gibberish talk. 

It's time for him to walk out. He's lost at his own game and there shouldn't be any picking up the pieces now. 

You know what they say... you can't sit on that fence for too long, or you risk falling on the wrong side.

ps. For those of you who want to have a good laugh, here's the link to his notorious blog:
http://www.francodebono.com