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MW 23 May 2018

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OPINION maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 23 MAY 2018 10 LAST week, as a Youth La- bour Forum we launched our campaign entitled 'Proud of my Politics'. As youths, we have no interest in pushing forward tribalism and petty argu- ments, which result in the dumbing down of our poli- tics, and thus this campaign is based on the values which truly make us Labourites. What we want to see in the future is a political debate based on policies, ideas and ideology, rather than the same old tit for tat which has hounded Maltese politics for quite some time. As Labourites, we are proud of the fact that it was the La- bour Movement that pushed forward economic growth and enabled the working masses to improve their life, so much so that a new mid- dle class was created. As socialists, we are proud of having introduced social justice in Malta, whereby everyone is given the same opportunities, no matter their background. As feminists, we are proud to have been the first party to fight for equal rights for woman, making sure that woman have the same demo- cratic rights as men. As liberals and progres- sives, we're proud of having pushed forward civil rights, so much so that Malta is now considered to be a beacon of hope on a global scale when it comes to LGBTQI rights. Our aim is to unite around the values, which truly make us who we are. Malta has progressed thanks to the Labour Move- ment, both as a nation state as well as a member state of the European Union. It is our priority to see that the wellbeing of this coun- try and its people continues to be at the very top of the national agenda. It is high time to see that personal attacks intended at one's political beliefs become a thing of the past. One's background and political beliefs should not be the sole criteria upon which people are judged by soci- ety's most privileged. Our Democratic status may have granted equal demo- cratic rights to every man and woman in the land, but it certainly has not removed the stigma that comes with emanating from the "lower- classes". At the end of the day, it is this change in mentality that we youths are aiming for in order to re-energise our political debate. Our party has achieved so much for our country, and we did not get there by hold- ing back from controverisal debates and discussions. Standing up for something that you believe in should not result in being barraged by know-it-alls who are un- der the false impression that their intellect and values are superior to yours. In sexism, this is known as 'mansplain- ing'. In politics it is nothing short of discrimination and denigration. Such attitude comes from the same sense of privilege and superiority that has been socially ingrained. It is pure divisive politics which we will no longer endorse or tolerate. We are standing up to that privilege backed by the strength of our beliefs, backed by the power of our convictions, and we invite all who have been shamed for their politics, whatever they are, to stand with us. Brendan Zerafa is Policy Coordinator of the Forum Zghazagh Laburisti Malta has progressed thanks to the Labour Movement, both as a nation state as well as a member state of the European Union As Labourites, we are proud of the fact that it was the Labour Movement that pushed forward economic growth and enabled the working masses to improve their life, so much so that a new middle class was created Proud of our Politics ... and why Brendan Zerafa

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