Thoughts and happenings from a life on Malta

The reason I chose to read this book is because it recounts the journey of the members of the Russian imperial family as they fled Russia, travelling by sea from Yalta to Malta. Though there are few references to my country, they are generally positive. Comments such as, “The Romanovs were elated by the beauty of the island” or “Sofka was very taken with Malta”. The Dowager herself wrote in her diary, “…Xenia and I drove in an open motorcar to lovely San Antonio in the loveliest weather and where the air was full of the scent of orange blossoms as we drove into the garden.”
The main part of the book is written in the style of an on-board diary while the concluding pages deal with the “where and  how all the family members and main characters end up over the years”.
In spite of the wealth they had been born into and their kinship to European royalty, I cannot but realize that a refugee is always a refugee, pining for a return to one’s home.

I rate this book a 7/10.

The following contribution by Mr Joe Zammit appears in the comments section of The Times on-line edition.

It captures the crusading spirit of Maltese Catholicism to the last drop of spiritual blood. 

“There can never be a responsible divorce. Divorce of any kind is evil, condemned by God for our own good.

We do not want divorce, any divorce. The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans want no form of divorce; so the vast majority will say NO to divorce.

It is a devilish deceit to try to qualify divorce. Divorce is the dissolution of a validly contracted marriage by a human person. No human person has the power, let alone the right, to dissolve a valid marriage.

A big NO to divorce; YES to the indissolubility of marriage.

Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it’s already guaranteed!”

Image: http://thetorchonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/devil_vs_god.jpg

I’ve just watched the Prime Minister give a press conference in connection with the UN resolution authorizing the use of force to protect Libyan citizens from Dictator Gaddafi.

In brief, we’re telling one and all that no, we are not going to actively help a down-trodden and long-suffering people even though we acknowledge that they are right in their request for assistance.

On the other hand, in reply to a question proffered by one of the journalists, our PM made it clear that should Malta come under attack, then Europe is obliged to spring to our defence.

As a salve, he explained that we will offer humanitarian assistance but this has little placatory effect. Helping to stop the bloodshed is the most humanitarian act and we are refusing to do this. So does he mean that we are ready to host hundreds of refugees should the situation arise? I doubt it because we have been making it amply clear that we have no “spare room” in our house for them.

I cannot understand how we can spectate with a clear conscience while Libya burns.

I cannot understand how, when Dictator Gaddafi and his cohorts have been eliminated from the political equation, we will have the gall to go knocking on Libya’s door hoping for a “business as usual” welcome.

I cannot understand how our Parliament refuses to take the symbolic step of stripping Dictator Gaddafi of the honours we bestowed upon him.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HF8egkCZU4