Should I be worried of racism

robpw2 wrote:

Many told me when i first suggested Malta that it was extremely homophobic being a catholic country etc but i haven't as yet experienced any , in fact i have seen same sex couples walking along Marsaxlokk and no one has even batted an eyelid ...

Maybe you've been lucky so far Rob, and I wish you continued good luck, but just be careful. 47% of the population of Malta voted against legalizing divorce, so I can imagine what the vast majority of the people of Malta think about homosexuality.

It's not just the problem with the general public's view either, it's the stance of the police and the judiciary which is a problem too, e.g.

"When the police arrived they went into the boys’ apartment and spoke to them but no arrests were made, Amy’s mother said." - So gay-bashing isn't a crime in Malta then? ABH is allowed if the victims are gay?

timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120122/local/Thugs-attack-lesbian-16-on-a-bench.403284

and saving the best for last -

timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121010/local/-Gay-jibe-man-who-ran-down-tourist-walks-free.440361

Malta, the country where if someone suggests that you might be gay, it's OK to get into your car and run them over.

I never know whether to    or    when I read that story. ONLY IN MALTA. 

bornonthe12th wrote:

Thank you all for your replies so far.
It's quite obvious Malta has a BIG problem, and I'm not sure I want to get caught up in it.

One person I spoke to replied as long as you look 'Western' you don't have a problem. (Shocking reply)

The whole idea was to go there initially and after I am settled bring the wife and kids up. I don't want my family in an environment like this.

The chances of me moving over to Malta are less than slim considering all I know now.

Letting idiot racists dictate your life ?...Get a grip and take the chance.If it gets too much return home.Simples.

robpw2 wrote:

I do wonder though if a lot of the bigotry on the island is a generation thing too and as each new generation is born hopefully the attitudes will change and for the better

I think you might be right, and not just here but everywhere. My dad still occasionally comes out with the odd racist slur, which I am very quick to pull him up about. But he's in his 80s and grew up watching Alf Garnett, Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson and all the other 70s "comedians". A lot has changed for the good in the last 40 or so years in the UK, but Malta is still decades behind with some of their attitudes.

Have a look at those two Times Of Malta stories I posted earlier when Admin approves the links. I don't know if you've been long enough in Malta to have seen them, they're eye-opening to say the least.

On An Island wrote:

robpw2 wrote:

I do wonder though if a lot of the bigotry on the island is a generation thing too and as each new generation is born hopefully the attitudes will change and for the better

I think you might be right, and not just here but everywhere. My dad still occasionally comes out with the odd racist slur, which I am very quick to pull him up about. But he's in his 80s and grew up watching Alf Garnett, Bernard Manning, Jim Davidson and all the other 70s "comedians". A lot has changed for the good in the last 40 or so years in the UK, but Malta is still decades behind with some of their attitudes.

Have a look at those two Times Of Malta stories I posted earlier when Admin approves the links. I don't know if you've been long enough in Malta to have seen them, they're eye-opening to say the least.

pm me them , Malta has its own gay bar now .. i was most shocked lol ..a big massive rainbow flag outside the only problems i had when i went is two female prostitutes propositioned me for sex on the way home ..lol

SunshineLover2011 wrote:

Really ? Your describing people by black or white,? Disgusting.

My grandmother never minded, that's how she also described herself. Black - and proud.

redmik wrote:

Alf Garnett was a character in a series which was, actually, anti racist. Satire at its best; racists being ridiculed.

Yeah it sure was redmik, unfortunately the satire was lost on a large section of the viewing public, it went straight over their heads. The very people that the show was mocking were far too dumb to realise that they were in fact being ridiculed, they probably saw him as a voice of reason. His character actually appealed to a lot of people and it just reinforced their prejudices.

And even today, if everyone understood that it was a satire, it's highly unlikely that any episodes would ever be shown again on terrestrial TV stations. Ditto to many other 70s TV shows.

bornonthe12th wrote:

Hi Guys,

I was recently in Malta for a holiday and loved it there and on coming back to the UK I applied for some jobs and feel honoured to have been offered 2 jobs in Malta (Although I have not accepted either offer yet).

I have been doing a lot of research over the weekend about Malta and was quite shocked about my findings, that is the attiitude of the maltese to black africans. I am of Nigerian but have lived in the UK for almost 20 years.

In this day and age im quite shocked to hear that black people are not allowed in certain clubs in Malta.

Is this really the case or are some of these stories far fetched. I will have to make a decision by wednesday and would really appreciate any advise from you guys. Cheers

It feels kinda wrong to even be asking this question, but I assume your potential employers are aware that you're black ?

chomypetra wrote:

There are some issues in life that you cant stop. As a person i am, i am much concerned about what God says about me,positive comments made by real people with substance,am not really concerned about negative comments on me made by my fellow human beings which at the end we will all go down the same grave and become dust. My advice is that you cant change what is happening here and in the world, you just have to live the best out from it and dont let it weigh you down.you have to know that people have different personalities(good or bad) and that affects them through out their life,those kind of people you will always meet. There are better issues to worry about than racism, so get yourself over here and dont let racism bother you.

You can change what is happening in this world ... you certainly wont change it by pretending it doesnt happen or bother you .
Your right he should come here and not let others dictate to him based on thier own misgivings or issues  but you stand up to racism by shutting those people down and about creating the best life possible and showing them they cannot win .

TheDarkman wrote:

It feels kinda wrong to even be asking this question, but I assume your potential employers are aware that you're black ?

Yes it does feel wrong to be asking this question about an EU State in 2015. But going by the replies I have received on this thread and by PMs. It is a very valid case of concern! and yes they are aware I am black.

bornonthe12th wrote:

TheDarkman wrote:

It feels kinda wrong to even be asking this question, but I assume your potential employers are aware that you're black ?

Yes it does feel wrong to be asking this question about an EU State in 2015. But going by the replies I have received on this thread and by PMs. It is a very valid case of concern! and yes they are aware I am black.

The reason I asked is because one of the worst aspects of racism is the denial of access to the means to be able to support yourself. It seems this wasn't a barrier for you. I would therefore assume that the people you will be working with and for see you as an asset to the business.

In the "wider world" you will doubtless experience some prejudice. Everyone does if they're not a local. But if you're of strong enough mind to overcome the hurdles that living in a different culture presents, the colour of your skin isn't going to be an enormous handicap.

I see the date by which you had to make your decision has now passed. I hope you made the right one and are now busy preparing for your new life. I moved here from Kent as well. And I ain't ever going back.