Seven Lampost Army

They're coming in all shapes and sizes. Zetetiq, Mistoqsija, Antoine, Neebother and Peckelectrick have all declared their support to the campaign. Others have begn to display their lampposts on their sites. I like the idea of everyone having their individual lamppost - it further's the idea of individuality - everyone providing their own bit of light in their own manner. So here are the images as they appeared in their blogs...

Mark Vella - Xifer... Il-Blogg mit-truf

Maltagirl... Diverse Ramblings

Immanuel Mifsud... Il-Blobb tas-Sibt Filghaxija

That makes seven potential lampposts added (here's hoping that Twannie, Mistoqsija, Neebother and Peck add their own). Keep them going. This is only just the start. Addendum: as I typed this blog this lamppost appeared on Hsibijet (Roderick Mallia):

Roderick Mallia... Hsibijiet

Meanwhile I remembered a comment from Antoine about the discussion remaining between intellectuals. I am not so sure. Once we have a good set of articles we can try to serialise them on a paper... my only problem is that for the Maltese versions there is not much printed media that would be a good host... unless we offer the series jointly to Nazzjon and l-Orizzont.

As for intellectuals... some were speaking out loud over a decade ago... maybe no one was listening then...

Merhba lill-Albanizi*
Oliver Friggieri

I

Qed tfur das-sajf dil-gzira bit-turisti
dehlin il-flus u l-lussu qieghed jikber,
illum skoprew lil Malta l-Albanizi!
Din pagna gdida: ftahna s-swieq u fostna
dehlin in-nies li qatt ma stennejniehom.
Kemm hadmet il-kampanja li ghamilna
bix nies li qatt ma gew issa bdew jigu!
Iss' ilna sekli maghrufin ghall-merhba
li naghtu 'l-barranin: ghax ahna Nsara.

II
Sinjuri Albanizi, tistghu taghzlu.
Se ssibu lukandi ta' kull klassi
li fihom kull ma tridu, sa pixxina
jekk l-ilma-bahar issibuh ftit kiesah.
F'lukanda ssibu wkoll xtajta privata,
izda tghumux bit-topless: ahna Nsara.
ghall-kiri tistghu taghzlu djar jew vilel
jew furnished flats bi prezzijiet ta' l-ghageb
li jistghu ivarjaw minn jum ghal iehor.
La tixxahxux la gejtu tiddevertu,
bil-flusli tonfqu tiehdu servizz tajjeb
u kollox efficjenti: ahna Nsara.

III

Ghamiltu tajjeb gejtu f'dawn il-granet
ghax habat l-istagun tal-festi taghna.
Bhalissa se taraw knejjes imzejna
bid-dehbijiet u fided li jbellhukom
ghax Alla taghna kbir u jhobb il-lussu
u jtina wkoll palata fit-turizmu.
Isimghu l-isparar u tihdux qatgha:
dan kollu loghob tal-hbieb; hawn ghandna l-paci.
Imbaghad araw l-armar u l-giggifogu.
Ixorbu u kulu. La tinsewx idduqu
bicctejn qubbajt u maghhom ftit pastizzi.
U kollox bi ftit flus: ghax ana Nsara.

IV

Jekk wara din il-btala tiddeciedu
li ma tridux titilqu u tridu tibqghu,
ghalikom ghandna mbaghad skema t'apposta
u skond il-kapital li gibtu maghkom
naghmlukom residenti permanenti.
Kif ghandna fostna residenti 'nglizi,
nibdew ikollna lilkom, Albanizi.
Thossukom f'darkom zgur: ghax ahna Nsara.

V

U issa biex mill-kliem nghaddu ghall-fatti:
ohorgu l-passaport inkella l-viza,
uruna l-kapital li gibtu maghkom.
Din hi biss procedura ta' kull darba
ghal kull turist u resident barrani.
Inkella tigu xejn! Mel'ahna Nsara?

*Imnebbha mill-istorja tad-dhul f'Malta ta' vapur mimli rifugjati Albanizi (1991)