It has been pointed out to me that I am ‘negative’. To me and many around me, this is real news. The only medium where this claim has been made is Facebook, famous for users to openly express themselves. Several (about half a dozen) people on Facebook take this strange view of me. They are of course entitled to their opinion. The same as they are welcome to keep me as a Facebook ‘friend’ or they can freely opt to ‘delete’, ‘block’ or retain me. As they are sat at one end of the internet with me at the other, I care little which option they choose. I am not obssessed with my number of Facebook ‘friends’. I have a personal policy not to always accept ‘friendship’ from those I have no connection or ‘mutual friends’. Equally others on Facebook choose to accept or deny my ‘friendship’. We are all different and this is my choice.
So, although I don’t feel the need to endlessly ‘put the record straight’, here is my reply to those seemingly shocked at my views on issues that affect all of us.
Regarding the Pope John Paul, if you wish to deny certain atrocities in the news then that’s fair enough. You will find that I am sharing a view of a great many people. I did not know him personally and have no actual view of him whatsoever.
I have followed and supported the British Labour movement since leaving school, if that displeases or disturbs you then fine. I have not always supported every policy or decision of this political party. Indeed there have been times in the last nearly 40 years when I have severely criticised. With regards other labour parties or movements outside the UK, I hold no actual support as I am only a national of Great Britain and entitled only to vote in UK general and local elections.
I have never spoken out against Renzo Piano as a professional and internationally renowned architect. I do not attack the architect. If you can find a reference to that please let us all see. I did however support the many foreigners and Maltese who felt that the Maltese PM’s incorrect view that Valletta is allegedly saturated with theatre. Since his u-turn I redeveloped a well-followed website endorsing and following the developments on that theatre site. On my website (www.maltaoperahouse.com) I refer users to the ‘archive’ section which remains as a record for this issue. Indeed I am extremely grateful to the OPM (Office of the Prime Minister) in Valletta for their continuing co-operation and assistance with these new and interesting plans for the City (click here).
To again put the record straight – I do not have an opinion of Dr. Lawrence Gonzi, Prime Minister of Malta. As an international public figure he and his policies are open to debate. I do not (and never have) support or am I a member of the Nationalist Party in Malta, the same as I do not support or am I a member of the Malta Labour Party or any othe political entity in that country.
I do (along with many others) fully support performers, writers and producers in Malta on the issue of censorship. I especially supported Adrian Buckle’s efforts (see here).
The Times of Malta has published a great many offensive, racist, homophobic and nasty ‘comments’ and continue to do so to an international audience. My and the view of many, is that this is irresponsible journalism. To put the record straight, I always read a wide range of publications from Malta. As a publication I feel The Times of Malta like any other is open to debate regarding editorial policy.
Regarding the British Royal Family. I have a view and one I am entitled to in this open, free, democratic medium we use to communicate. I support the drive for an elected Head of State. Historically, as I keep saying, they are important and interesting. I hold no opinion of the monarch personally only the position she currently holds. Many disagree, many agree. What is so outrageous about that opinion exactly?
I am fully aware that these issues and items have extensive financial, political and popular endorsement which does not entitle them to be devoid of opinion.
I detest discussing my unimportant private life, however, I wish to clarify that I am famously a very positive person living a life of extreme physical hardship and very poor health. Throughout all this I maintain great happiness which many in the UK will willingly back up.
Facebook is internationally regarded as a medium for open debate, the fact that my views might leave you ‘speechless’, ‘annoyed’, ‘confused’ or as one ‘friend’ said, ‘pissed-off’ is a matter that can easily be resolved through the privacy facilities on Facebook itself. Most of my real friends in life – the ones I actually see and know well admire my views, although some do not always agree. That’s what makes true friendship.
Finally …
To be quite honest, I really don’t care what other people think about me, my work, my issues, my professional outlook, performance or my lifestyle. I don’t care if you think I am hilarious or thoroughly miserable. I am not interested if you ‘disapprove’ or endorse my way of life. Feedback fuels momentary interest, thats about as far as it goes.
I’ve had that much inaccurate flack thrown my way over the years, it just slides painlessly away.
I sometimes try and straighten the record and defend myself a bit when I can, but I am honestly not loosing hours of sleep. And to be frank, if interaction is merely at ‘cyber’ level then to a degree I take a lot of it with a pinch of salt, because you are there and I am here.
It’s truly great to make new friends and annoying when that status is lost. It’s nice to stay in touch, but in reality life goes on, circumstances change, we get older, some of us struggle with daily life others climb mountains and swim the English Channel! So at the end of the day, thats all it is … life. I enjoy mine as positively as I can, I laugh, shout, smile, love and cry like everyone else. I love and care for the person nearest me, for that I am extremely grateful and if I wake in the morning no worse off than when I went to sleep, then for me it’s a ‘great day’.
If you feel my views are overbearing and indeed if I discover that the majority of my Facebook ‘friends’ take your standpoint regarding my opinions I will quite naturally close my account. In the meantime, it’s great to have you as a ‘friend’, enjoy my Facebook and my little blog – and if you find me a tad annoying just click away 🙂
