Talk:Dom Mintoff

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My sincere apologies to 217.15.xx.xx. for not writing this comment on first revert.

Since 2003 this article has evolved on a pluralistic basis. Changes made by 217.15.xx.xx. (2005-06-12 --- 2005-06-21) express strong personal views. We all know China, North Korea's and Libya's record; their policies on human rights are well documented on Wikipedia and the article which evolved so far is critical enough and expresses the controversy and debate, also note that this article is far more critical than the official Maltese Governemet PM biography pages. Using value-laden terms such as calling these leaders 'butchers' or leaders of 'rogue states' (the latter being itself a debatable term) reduces the value of the article since it deprives individual judgement by the reader. The article is critical enough to encourage those interested in deeper research to consult different sources and documents on the contoversy and debate and make use of their own capacities to judge for themselves - just allow them the freedom to do so.

This said, I am by no means contesting your right to express your personal views which can also be expressed on wikipedia outside article space. The freedom to do so is practically unlimited in user space --- so the more as a registered user.

I reverted to the cooperative version on the basis that - however intentional or not - your comments modify the NPOV attained collectively and compromise the integrity of this article. I guess that it is very likely that we share similar values on NPOV. Sincerely :)) --Joelemaltais 20:11, 21 Jun 2005 (UTC) "Subsequently, despite being the largest political party, the Malta Labour Party was condemned to ten years in opposition, due to the stubborness of a medieval Catholic Church." - Checking this comment clearly throws any notion of a Neutral Point Of View down the drain. How come there is no mention in this article about Mintoff's post-war reception with young Labourites when communist anthems were sung in his presence when he was a Minister, and upon being discovered not only didn't Mintoff offer an apology but he went stubbornly ahead. What about such expressions as those related to Russia where according to Mintoff the miracle of the 20th century had happened (referring to the Bolshevik Revolution) et cetera. "Stubborness of a medieval Catholic Church"? More like a Roman Catholic Church preoccupied with a populistic leader who had a liking for communist states (let us remember that under him Malta was the first European state to recognise internationally Communist China as well, Caucaescu was granted an honoris causa by the University of Malta et cetera) which at that time were involved in the greatest persecutions against Christians known in the modern world. The Mintoffian Labour Party was no victim in the whole politico-religious question, it was a contending party whose "victim" status is only believed by the duped due to the Church's inadequacy in defending itself. Noticing the results of the whole question is highly important here, the Church issued an apology, which the Labour Party never felt like offering itself (or did they?), and while the Church doesn't attack the Labour Party any longer, most Labourites are as anti-clerical as ever. By the way, the great Mintoff was also considering the introduction of divorce and abortion decades back, certainly not something that would make someone endeared in the eyes of the Catholic Church. Plus, let us remember that Mintoff was a declared socialist, an adherent to an ideology that was condemned by the Catholic Church way before Mintoff ever appeared in politics. Any disciplinary action by the Catholic Church against supporters of a Socialists who purport to be Catholic should be seen in that context. Mintoff was an enemy of the Roman Catholic Church by his own adherence to Socialism, he only managed to convince gullible people that Socialism and Catholicism could go hand in hand, and considering that Mintoff would be granting a bunch of social services most people would have been convinced through that way and that way alone. I do agree on certain things with Mintoff, such as his will to withdraw from the Commonwealth and the declaration of a Republic, but after reading this article the question "is a NPOV according to some a mild Mintoffian eulogy?" arises spontaneously.

Contents

[edit] expansion?

nothing on the 'request for expansion' page, can someone explain? Srl 20:38, 27 November 2005 (UTC)


This article is biased. Many important things:


"The Labour party has a more nationalist outlook than the Nationalist party." On what grounds? Opposition to membership of the EU does not mean one is more Nationalist. It could mean that Mintoff was as always has been opposed to the 'Europe of Cain' as he called Western Europe during the cold war.

No mention is made of the political violence by his supporters and bullies, the Labour party is portrayed as a victim during the political-religous confict.Correction to political violence by supporters the violence that supporters engaged was due to defence from the lies and in defance of their bread and butter.

No mention is made to the statutory union between the Labour Party and the largest trade union, effectively silencing it and using it as a political tool.Had it not been for the Union the poeple would still be paid peanuts, the union stood up for the worker and that is why the union was hated. No mention is made to the conflict between Mintoff and the present labour party leader Alfred Sant, which lead to the downfall of the labour goverment after only 2 years of government.

--- Unsigned comment

[edit] Neutrality

Please take the initiative and include changes you deem as appropriate. Thereafter, your changes will be modified if they are considered to decrease the neutrality of the article. However, at present I do agree that certain sections are non neutral - from bought sides of the coin. The dark side of Mintoff's political history seems to dominate the content of the article. I am unable to neutralise the article myself in view of my strong different political opinion and ideology. Maltesedog 15:42, 19 August 2006 (UTC)

30 August 2007 I am deeply distressed at the way politicl views as stated.I am old enough to know that have it not been for Mintoff the lower class would have never had jobs, health care,old age pension,I remember old timers coming out of the drydocks gate and begging for money, those that write against who does good are evil,During those days nobody lifted the taboos from the so called church.Not the so called National Party.

I have tried hard to understand the mangled English used in the previous unsigned comment. While not going into the substance (which is incorrect anyway: "jobs, health care, old age pension" had been there long before Mintoff took over the premiership) in a recent clean-up I separated content which would have been more appropriately placed under the Malta Labour Party entry rather than here. Demdem 16:11, 30 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mintoff or MLP?

It is true Mintoff dominated the Malta Labour Party for decades but much of this article is about the Malta Labour Party. I think it needs a cleanup. Demdem 18:18, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

Go ahead and do it then! Maltesedog 19:24, 27 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Black Monday (Malta)

Okay, I tried to re-word the section that includes the reference to Black Monday to at least not be an abrupt 'see also'. Any re-writing would be welcomed, I'm sure. 「ѕʀʟ·」 07:21, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Weasel words

Please note that the section "..., a fact which, many claimed, gave him much behind-the-scenes leverage" are considered weasel words. This would have to be substantiated or otherwise removed. —Preceding unsigned comment added by SeverityOne (talkcontribs) 19:53, 10 March 2008 (UTC)