Opinion • January 11 2004

Feed the birds

Memories of the ‘feed the birds’ man provide Saviour Balzan for some food for thought

Flashbacks can be wonderful and scary moments. They contribute so very much to reviving nightmares. Whenever I stroll past Pjazza Regina I have these colourful images of an elderly man with kind eyes who would call out "feed the birds, feed the birds."
In later years from a jumpy old man I remember a crooked, tired man.
My pops would give me a coin or two and in return the feed the birds’ man would give me some corn.
Dozens of pigeons would descend on my hand. It was to be my first and last friendly encounter with birds.
The ‘feed the birds’ analogy brings me to today’s world.
Instead of an open Pjazza Regina all of us are forced to view a majestic square carelessly taken over by horrendously ugly plastic tables and umbrellas blocking the vista of the beautiful architecture.
But it is the feeding of false news or misinformation, or the ‘control the minds’ syndrome that worries me more today.
The Labour opposition are very right in reminding us of the promises and false pretensions offered by the Nationalist pro Europe front before the referendum. I was there, but luckily, for my sins, I never fell to saying things I did not want to say.
I always said that some day the Nationalists would be the ones to take the anti-European stance.
The Labour press is correct in showing snippets of Margaret Mercieca, a Nationalist councillor as, at a PN mass meeting, she pronounced herself on the benefits of EU membership for the textile industry.
In their adrenaline mode the crowd could not distinguish between the wise words of an economist or the silly anecdotes of a Nationalist who was erroneously led to believe that the textile industry in a European economic model would flourish.
Anyone with the slightest understanding of the global economy would not have selected Margaret Mercieca to herald the advantages of the textile industry in a European economic model. It is not Margaret Mercieca who deserves a scolding but the ‘bravu’ who selected her.
However, what is also grossly incorrect is Super One’s Robert Francalanza depicting old footage of Alfred Sant with his partnership slogan and his long list of companies that would have nothing to gain from membership, to drive the point home.
Mr Francalanza you are either for or against Europe. And selecting snippets of Alfred Sant in his scare mood will only play into the hands of the Nationalist spin machine.
Misinformation or selective reporting brings me to another story that I would very much like to talk about.
On Friday, I noted that the Chief Justice Vincent De Gaetano (VDG) ruled that MaltaToday ignored a court ruling and should face the brunt of the law. VDG decided that MaltaToday should not have published a factual, word for word, legal deposition that Meinrad Calleja’s lawyer Ian Refalo had filed with the European Court of Justice regarding the decision to appoint the same judge (VDG) to Calleja’s case. In a nutshell, Dr Refalo has claimed prejudice since VDG had presided over the sentencing of Meinrad Calleja in his drug case.
It has to be said that judge VDG had ruled that no one could write, comment or mention Meinrad Calleja’s case in the media.
But VDG will not appreciate that the right of the press to report a legal process does not fall within this ruling.
If it does, then that is wrong and MaltaToday will fight it.
I am not the type to shout out and say that I will rest by the wisdom and ruling of the courts. I will stand by what is right.
What also attracted my attention was that the only TV station that reported the decision by VDG on MaltaToday was NET TV. The other stations did not broadcast or print a report.
Now NET TV and Nazzjon are to be remembered for their prejudicial reporting of this case. Or better still for saying what they want, and for prejudging the case before the course of justice.
Not once has the PN media been rapped on its knuckles. More so in the days of former police commissioner George Grech, the man who puts to shame all my fantasies.
Now boys and girls who do you think saw to it that NET aired the news before everyone else?
Anyone who has the right answer is eligible for a free ride to Brussels and a cushy job in a dreadfully grey office in Schumann square.