It was with a feeling of nostalgia that I read Charles Flores' contribution (Relics and realities, TMIS, 24 March) in which he recalled our old friendship from the 1960s. Nonetheless I totally disagree with his reasoning regarding the issue of the George Cross on the flag, especially when he labelled it as a 'national hang-up' instead of, journalistically speaking, seeing it as a media debate probing fresh awareness and input to the Maltese identity.
What a pity that politics of memory and identity, a pivotal part of the modern interdisciplinary approach to history, has not yet taken root in our intellectual culture. I was also shaken when my friend equalled, inter alia, obsolete red telephone boxes with 'similar historical leftovers', referring to architectural gems brimming over with the finest of European art, the sumptuous legacy of the Knights.
I have no control over who, when or how this recent colonial timbre on our centuries-old national colours, the highest form of Malta's public space, flutters off with the cool winds that so often blow over our islands. My regular offerings to the media are there for the public to pick up if and when they wish. The cure to our society's maladie d'histoire that blocks our memory through a lack of historical lucidity, is totally optional. Education is the remedy.
Charles Flores recollected our shared poetry book in the late 1960s. May I lift from that book some lines that I wrote in 1967 on the third anniversary of Independence. The poem was entitled Ħamra u bajda biss! (Red and white only) and is evidence of my early conviction on the issue. A couple of couplets come to mind:
Il-ġens li ħakmek biex ħelsek/Jgħassrek f'ilwienek! (free translation: The nation that reigned over you to free you (through Independence)/enslaved you on your colours); Hekk bajda w ħamra biss sejjaħlek il-għannej ewlieni/Hekk bajda w ħamra biss tagħmilni Malti hieni (The national poet hailed (the flag) as red and white only/Red and white only makes me a contented citizen).
Charles Xuereb
Sliema