From Mr F. Farrugia

I feel it is in order to comment on Lou Bondi’s way of starting his article last Sunday – Politics without catechism – in which he attacks the MUSEUM people of his time, when he was a child in Gozo.

I am more or less his age, yet have fond memories of my young days when I was in the MUSEUM, even if across the “fliegu” on mainland Malta. Those were very happy days, I can tell you. Our “Guzeppis” were equally buttoned-up, equally tie-less, and equally ascetic, but certainly far from “joyless” because the year was constantly marked by festivities, events, ceremonies and activities which made it fun to go the Muzew! True, theirs was a strange way of teaching Catechism, but they did so from the heart and without ever asking anything in return.

True also that our Guzeppis were as unmarried as Lou’s, but so what? Whoever said that you have to be married in order to exude joy to your neighbour? Quite the contrary, from what I can see around me nowadays?

And as for “ill-fitting suits”, for goodness sake, Lou, do you still think that the dress is more important and not the content of one’s words?

Certainly, smart suits never impressed me, and probably, the more sane man in the street would agree with me. If we are putting more emphasis on the smart suit and ignore the real message passed on by the person, then we’re going to continue facing trouble in this world!

To all the Guzeppis of the world, whether Maltese or Gozitans… my deepest respect!

Franco Farrugia

GUARDAMANGIA