Respect towards the Flag

Few countries revere their flag as much as the United States. This could be because the United States’ flag is designed such that each part of the flag is so closely associated with the country’s history and depicts so well the struggle of this land to become a nation. The fifty stars on the flag represent the 50 states and the 13 stripes represent the original thirteen colonies that rebelled against the British monarchy and became the first states in the Union. 

The United States has a Flag Code. This code incorporates a set of laws relating to how the flag should be handled, folded, when it should be displayed and during what times of the day. The flag code also lists how the flag should be taken care and disposed of. 

In my opinion proof of the United States’ respect towards its flag lies in the rules on how the flag should be disposed of.  The flag code states that “The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning”. Veteran service organisations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans as well as the Boy and Girl Scouts offer free flag disposal services. Those who wish to dispose of the flag themselves should burn the flag in a dignified manner and should bury the ashes. On the Internet one can find ceremonial scripts one could follow to dispose of the flag honourably. 

Flags made of nylon and other synthetic materials should not be burned since these can create hazardous gases when they are burned. A good alternative to dispose of synthetic flags is recycling. To recycle a flag, simply write "Recycle" on the header of the flag before handing it over to one of the organisations mentioned above. 

All nations have a flag; for some the flag is seen to be a living emblem of their country, for others it is just a piece of cloth marking territory or a ceremonial object.

Membership drive

The success of any group depends, to a considerable extent, on the number of members. With a larger headcount, we will be in a better position to increase the chances of success in those issues that matter to us. We are currently in the mid-hundreds yet I believe that this number should be a four digit value. We need those numbers.

Here are some tips that may help you “discover” other Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) potential members:

• Do you recall someone your parents used to mention? Can you track them down?
• Did you have a friend at school (Malta or the US) who could be a member? Are they on Facebook or other social network?
• Is there a relative who might know of people who have lived in the US?
• Are there mechanisms, clubs, schools, parish notice boards, etc. you may post a note about us?
• Can you write about SASM in the press? This will help others discover SASM by reading what you are writing about us.
• Do you know of any Maltese groups in the US who could help; do you have their email addresses (preferably) or postal addresses? Were you involved with these groups (or maybe your next of kin)? SASM will help you if you need our assistance.
• Could you take it upon yourself to give SASM a mention on a community radio? Don’t know what to say or you’re radio shy? – talk to us.
• Does your parish publish a weekly Bulletin? Can we get a mention over there?
• Other ideas?

It would be nice if you kept SASM in the loop. We need all the help you can give us. Summer is now upon us and this may give some of you more opportunity to mix and mingle. Make it a point to proudly promote SASM in your exchanges. And don’t forget that membership to SASM is completely free.

Learning Maltese

During the Convention of Maltese Living Abroad, held between the 14th and the 20th of March, a number of delegates highlighted the fact that there are scarce resources available to those living abroad who would like to learn Maltese. I must admit that even though I had an inclination that there are people of Maltese descent who would like to learn the native language of their ancestors, I did not realise that this desire was significant. Even if one factored in that, most probably, the people I spoke to had a greater than average interest in the Maltese language, I came to the conclusion that, if Maltese language resources could be made available to Maltese living abroad a healthy number would have a go at mastering it.

This article aims to analyse the different categories of people who would want to learn Maltese and the degree to which they would like to master the language. It also tries to have a look at who could create or sponsor content creation. The people being targeted here are those for whom Maltese would be a foreign language to which they are rarely exposed. In researching this paper I looked at what is available to people who would like to learn a foreign language such as English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.

Individuals who want to master a foreign language do so for either economic gains or for personal reasons. By economic gains I mean that the perceived outcome of learning a new language would be to increase one’s earning potential. No foreigner would learn Maltese for economic gains. This is because Maltese is not widely used globally, English is an official language of Malta¹, business is conducted predominantly in English and Malta is a miniscule island that has been dominated (influenced) by others and has never dominated (influenced) other nations.

There are many reasons why a person may want to learn a foreign language for personal reasons. A few examples are:

• Wanting to learn the language of one’s ancestors;
• Taking a trip to Malta;
• Curiosity;
• Love of languages;
• Moving to Malta;
• Speaking to Maltese friends or relatives

The type of language training available can be classified as follows:

• Introductory or Basic: the person would be interested in discovering what the language is all about. Normally a person would seek such training if s/he is curious about the language or is planning a holiday to the country and would like to learn a few basic words used by the natives. This type of training is normally designed to be completed over a short period of time and different modules do not necessary have a sense of continuity between them.
• Beginner / Intermediate / Advanced structured learning: the person wants to master the language in a more structured way. Each module is made up of lessons. The successful completion of one lesson is necessary to the understanding of successive lessons. Each module would have a test or other feedback mechanism that would allow the learner to check his level of understanding.
• Targeted: the person is interested in learning a language for a specific purpose. Targeted instruction is designed to equip the learner with the necessary skills to be able to perform a single or limited number of tasks and is normally packaged with other non-linguistic training. For example, a business course aimed at business persons who want to trade in a foreign country may incorporate business language-related training but would also incorporate training on the business customs of the natives with special emphasis on the do’s and don’ts. Since Malta is an English speaking nation with English being the predominant language in which most business transactions are conducted and with a very British approach to business, I do not think that there would be any interest in providing this type of training in the Maltese language.

The available training is normally provided by one of three entities:

• State sponsored training: the government of the native country makes available scholarships or makes available grants to those who want to learn the language. For example, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants foreign citizens, as well as Italian citizens permanently residing abroad, scholarships for Italian language and culture courses. ²
  
  State-sponsored training may come in the form of lessons that are either free or are provided at reduced prices. Deutsche Welle provides online courses that are free³. For example, its Deutsch Interaktiv is a free 30-part self-study course that covers levels A1 and B1 of the Common European Frame of References for Languages. Other language related materials on the site are fun courses such as Radio D, a course aimed at Students. Paula and Philipp lead the user through a 26-part series. The two radio producers have to travel across Germany to research mysterious cases. Radio D is ideal for both beginners and those who have some previous knowledge of German.
  
  Radio France International has a daily downloadable news podcast in simple (and slow) French aimed at those learning the French language⁴. One of the problems many non-native French language speakers face is that of not being able to follow a conversation spoken at a native’s standard rate of speech. These broadcast also attempt to use a limited vocabulary to make understanding and following the news easier.
  
  RAI has a TV channel called RAI Education. Part of this station’s programming is aimed at helping followers learn English. The station combines an online site called Il D at http://www.ild.rai.it with TV programming that aims to help Italians master the English language.
• Commercial: Commercial content covers a wide spectrum. Unlike state-sponsored training, commercial organisations must see the potential of earning a profit on the language module they are developing. The following are some examples of what is available on the market:
• Computer-based training. Interactive lessons allow you to learn a new language at your own pace and in the comfort of your home. You can repeat a module many times over and use the program to gauge your progress and point out areas you need to improve. Rosetta Stone (http://www.rosettastone.com/) is a leader in this type of training. They have courses in 31 languages. Maltese is not listed.
• Audio-based training. This type of training is based on the concept of Hear It, Learn It, Speak It. Lessons are available on CD or MP3/iPod player format. Pimsleur (http://www.pimsleur.com) is one company that has developed language training of this sort in over 50 languages. Maltese is not listed.
• Video-based training. These can come in the form of DVD or online content one can watch. The BBC Language Course for Children based around the character Muzzy is an example of this type of training.⁵
• Tutor based distance training. There are numerous variations on this category. One model is that in which the students follow a structured lesson plan in which the tutor facilitates the learning process, hands out assignments and corrects submitted work. On the other hand, there are internet sites such as Verbalplanet.com (http://www.verbalplanet.com) that allow you to select from a list of tutors (who have been rated by previous students). The tutor you choose will set up a personalised lesson plan. You book the time when you want the lesson to be held and communicate online with your tutor on a one-to-one basis using the Skype communication program. Although Maltese is listed as one of the available languages, there are no tutors listed for this language.
• Holiday based training. Combine learning a language with a holiday. Malta has many commercial English language schools that offer this type of service. Students spend the morning attending classes with the afternoon dedicated to getting to know the country they are visiting while at the same time getting a change to practise the language. For example, the Gothe-Institut provides specialised language courses in which learning German is combined with other activities. Three courses listed on their web site are German plus music, German plus soccer and German plus winter sports⁶.
• Institutional training in which a student follows a language course by attending an institution. The difference between this type of training and holiday-based training is that here an individual attends a training institution. What this person does after hours is not taken care of by the organiser of the language training.
• Free: free training is essentially of the same type as what is described above. It is normally mostly of an automated type that rarely comprises the use of tutors. One of the best sites that catalogue websites which offer free language courses is appropriately called Free Language. It can be found at http://freelanguage.org. The source of free training can be classified as:
• State-sponsored (described above)
• Hobbyist: people who enjoy creating content for others to consume. The quality of the material can vary depending on the technical capabilities and resources of the person creating the content.
• Commercial: many commercial companies that provide electronic content provide a free first lesson or a sample of the training in order to let students experience what they will be getting if they enrol/purchase the course.
• Others: Anything that cannot be classified above would be listed here. For example, the BBC has a portion of its online website dedicated to teaching visitors foreign languages. Here one can find language courses on various languages. It has a page with 12 phrases read out in Maltese⁷.

The groupings listed above do not have fixed boundaries and are therefore not intended to be taken as such. The languages researched are spoken by millions and appertain to countries that have strong economies. There are many reasons why an individual may decide to learn one of these languages other than a love for the language itself. Suffice to say that the languages I have looked at are used natively by millions and belong to countries that are economically very strong.

In the case of Maltese, the majority of those who would like to learn it would do so out of a love for the language and the nation that speaks it. We should therefore look at what resources exist and try to make some of them available to those wanting to learn our language.

This article was written by Alan and Connie Bonnici with the input of Joe Meilak.

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¹ Malta. (2010, April 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:04, April 8, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Malta&oldid=354318587

² Scholarships And Financial Aids. In Scuola Leonardo da Vinci. Retrieved 15:22, April 9, 2010, from http://www.scuolaleonardo.com/Italian-language-scholarships.html

³ Learning German. In DW-WORLD.DE. Retrieved 15:22, April 9, 2010, from http://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,2547,00.html

⁴ Understanding the news. In RFI - Langue franҫaise. Retrieved 16:22, April 9, 2010, from http://www.rfi.fr/lfen/statiques/accueil.asp

⁵ http://www.early-advantage.com/Default.aspx

⁶ Courses for children and teens. In Goethe-Institut. Retrieved 17:25, April 9, 2010, from http://www.goethe.de/ins/de/spr/kuj/kur/deu/enindex.htm

⁷ Languages. In BBC – Languages. Retrieved 15:49, April 12, 2010, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

Getting European Citizenship

Do you have Maltese blood running through your veins? Was one of your grandparents a Maltese who left Malta during the last century in search of a better life? If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then you may be eligible to get Maltese citizenship together with the one you currently have.

Malta is a miniscule archipelago of islands having a total area of 122 square miles. The two islands that are inhabited are Malta and Gozo. The population of Malta stood at over four hundred thousand in 2009. The small land mass contributes to make Malta the country with the 7th highest population density (4th if one excludes territories belonging to a larger country). For those who might not be able to visualize measurements, it would suffice to say that one can fit in thirty thousand four hundred and seventy four Maltas within the US territory.

For a period of around 70 years (from around the turn of the 20th century), Maltese emigrated to countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. The main reason why people left their home was because there were no jobs. Especially after World War 2, the Maltese state organized ships that transported thousands to the countries mentioned above.

Today it is estimated that there are more people of Maltese descent living abroad than there are Maltese living in Malta. This is, in part, due to legislation by the Maltese government that allows people of Maltese descent to get back their Maltese citizenship (while retaining their existing one). For many, getting their Maltese citizenship gives them a sense of pride in being able to hold official documents that demonstrate their identity. It feels great to be able to show off one’s Maltese origin rather than simply talk about it.

Other reasons are of a more practical nature. For example when one gets his or her Maltese citizenship one automatically gains European Union citizen status. This means that at the moment one becomes a Maltese citizen, one gains freedom of movement as well as all the health, political, employment and legal benefits available to all members of the European Union. Stating on one’s resume that you can work in any European country besides your own is considered an asset in today’s global economy. As a member of a European Union country you are entitled to free medical services identical to that which is given to a native citizen of that member state. In Europe, many countries provide free medical to their citizens.

For those lucky enough to be of Maltese descent, getting a Maltese passport together with your local passport constitutes a win-win situation. You will need to prove that your ancestors are of Maltese origin, but other than that the process is quite straightforward. Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) is a not-for-profit organization that helps Americans of Maltese descent get their Maltese citizenship back. Go to their website at http://www.StarsAndStripesMalta.com for more information or to contact them.

Let’s Vote

During the last presidential election campaign I was asked whether the election of a US president should become a global event rather than being something only citizens of the United States can participate in. The reasoning behind that question was that since the United States is a super power whose actions influence the global economy, it was “unfair” that only US citizens got to choose. While I believe that the election of a US president should belong exclusively to American citizens, I have to concede that US policy decisions have a ripple effect on the rest of the world.


The importance of US elections is reflected in the global media coverage of each stage of the presidential campaign. From more than a year before, the world is alerted to the fact that elections will be coming up soon. From 11 months before the election date, our local news start following each party’s primaries. What each prospective party candidate is saying and doing starts to be closely being monitored. Progressively, candidates withdraw transferring their support to another hopeful within the party. Closer to the November election date entire pages of newsprint, radio, TV and internet are dedicated exclusively to what the two remaining players are saying or doing. Many countries across all time zones stay up during awkward times to provide their viewers with live coverage of the counting of ballots and the declaration of a winner.

Those who have a US citizenship have the right to participate in State and Federal elections. In order to vote you do not need to physically be present in the US. Voting by US citizens living outside the US is known as Absentee Voting. To be able to vote you have to complete the Registration/Absentee Ballot Request form and send it to your Election Official. When this is approved you will receive your ballot in the mail. Fill in the ballot and post it back to your election office. The process is simple and straightforward.

Some might say that their vote does not matter over who will win an election. This is far from the truth. We are seeing a surge in the number of people who make use of their right to vote and as democrats and republicans converge on many topics the difference between the winner and the loser will be getting smaller. Suffice to remind those who followed the 2000 US presidential elections between George W. Bush and Al Gore in which the former’s margin of victory in Florida was 327 votes (adjusted to 930 votes because of overseas votes). Thanks to Florida, George W. Bush became the 43rd President of the US.

For more information on how you can apply for an absentee vote for both State as well as Federal elections, you can contact FVAP on http://www.fvap.gov. For information on how to join the Democratic Party (and be eligible to participate in party primaries) point your browser to http://www.democratsabroad.org/. Republicans can do the same by visiting http://www.republicansabroad.org/. If you need assistance, you can either visit the US Embassy here in Malta or get in touch with us on info@StarsAndStripesMalta.com.

Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) is in contact with both the Democratic as well as the Republican parties’ overseas voters sections to provide you with salient information about activities that may interest you. We have also subscribed to the Federal Voting Assistance Program and will keep you posted on announcements by this government branch.

By exercising your right to vote, you are making your concerns known. As the number of overseas voters increase, parties will be more than willing to listen and understand the needs and special situations of US citizens living outside the USA. With a US population of 3000 living here in Malta, we could have turned the 2000 presidential election one way or the other. By registering to vote and sending in your absentee ballots you would be making that difference.

Americans gain is Canadian pain in 2010 Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are halfway over already. With so many Maltese living in Canada and America, these Olympics have been both a joy and a disappointment.

For the Canadians, nothing was right from the beginning. With the unfortunate death of the Georgian Luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Olympics began on a sour note. After what appeared to be an incredible opening, the last arm of the Olympic torch failed to rise out of the ground, leaving the remaining arms seem out of place. It was an ominous start for the Canadians. Things looked up for the Canadians as they finally won a Gold medal on their own soil, but looking back that might have been the high point for them this Olympics. After spending millions of dollars to "Own the Podium" by winning the most medals in their own Olympic games, the Canadians sit a long off 5th place and have officially given up on this dream.

The biggest disappointment of the Olympics for the Canadians must be the Ice Hockey team, a sport Canadians hold so dear, yet they had to go to an overtime shot out to beat the Swiss and then lost in a horrible fashion to the Americans. Yes the Americans are better than the Swiss at hockey, but to lose to their neighbors in a game they call their own, ripped at the hearts of the Canadians. Now their team must beat the Germans before facing off with the Russians in the quarterfinals. A team destined to win the gold, now will be lucky to get to the medal games at all.

For the Americans however, the games have been a great success. American athletes seem to be medaling at an incredible pace. The best athletes have shown brightly for the Stars and Stripes, and the underdogs have made a stand (See the Hockey team for an example). There is a theory floating around America for this incredible success, and that is the theory of familiarity.

Many American athletes have trained in Vancouver for years, Apollo Ohno the American superstar speed skater, grew up in Seattle and learned to speed skate as a young boy in...Vancouver. Many people are saying the Americans have all the comforts of home without the pressures of playing at home. With Canadian and American cities so similar in layout, with virtually the same language, cultures and lifestyles the Americans are in quite the comfort zone.

It should be an exciting finish to the 2010 Olympics with the Germans right on the heels of the Americans for overall medal count, and the American media is already comparing the USA Hockey team to the "Miracle on Ice" team of 1980 (which is a bit of stretch). I hope all of you in Malta and around the world have been able to tune in and catch some of the action, it is certainly worth it!

Superbowl Review

The big game of the year has come and gone, but alas it wasn’t what many of us were expecting, in fact it was a bit predictable. Two high powered offenses squaring off against one another, and yet two totally different styles; the flash and trickery of the Saints squaring off against the proven pass happy Colts. It was only a matter of time until they got their feet under them and the points began to rain down. Sure enough in the second half the points began to accumulate, as well as the lone surprise coming with the onsides kick by the Saints to start the half, which they did recover. But it felt…different; there were no big flashy offensive plays, no Running back breaking it for a long exciting scamper down the sidelines, no Quarterback hitting a deep receiver for a huge gain. Rather the scoring came on methodical yet efficient drives.

Then it happened, the big play of the game. The interception returned for a touchdown, and it was big and flashy but sitting at home I had a different feeling, it wasn’t elation at a big play finally but rather it was a feeling that this was scripted. Perhaps one would say it felt like it was destiny. Maybe Peyton Manning knew that too, judging by the way he walked off the field, he looked like he knew he was a part of something bigger than himself. And honestly, how could the Saints not win the Superbowl? How could they make it all the way to their first ever title game and then flop on the biggest stage when they represent all that is good about New Orleans? They couldn’t. And though each person may have had an individual pulling interest, everyone deep down knew how the game would end before it started and maybe, just maybe, that is why it wasn’t the most exciting Superbowl because the hearts of America had picked the winner years ago when a city was devastated.

Overall, it was a clean and good game to watch. In fact it was everything good about football. The commercials were average this year, nothing made me laugh very hard but maybe that’s a good thing too, maybe it is time to start focusing back on what the day is, a day for football not commercials. For the sake of this blog, I’ll add that the Superbowl is truly a day where everyone in America comes together, regardless of where you are from. Enjoying the game with friends in a college town amplifies this. Sitting around our table, with chips and beers in hand, were two Brazilians, a Canadian, a Frenchman, a Peruvian and kids from around the cities and farms of the American Midwest. It was a great sight and I reflected on it, even if only for a moment, before going back to snacking and screaming at the television.

Maltese American Associations

When the largest number of the Maltese emigrated to the US, the phone was a device the majority of people spoke about rather than owned.  Yet today many of the organizations that aim to group together Maltese people living in different US states are still in the technological Stone Age.  A few days ago I googled the phrase “Maltese American”. The first 4 links were the following:

1.    A Definition of what a Maltese American is in Wikipedia.
2.    A website called americanmaltese.org about the Maltese dog.
3.    An article titled “Maltese Americans” by Dianne Andreassi.
4.    Another website about the Maltese dog.
 

After that were links to pages with links to either dog clubs or to Maltese American Clubs. I started clicking the links that made reference to “Maltese American Club”, “Maltese American Association”, “Maltese American Society” and other phrases that indicate an organization in which people of Maltese descent meet and mingle.
 

I regret to report that many of the links opened up into pages that belonged to business finding web sites.  These would carry the name of the organization, an address and sometimes a phone number. Many had a map indicating the address. Even though many of these pages allowed people to add comments and advertise events, all the links I clicked upon were void of such content. I get the impression that the owners of these information sites had gotten hold of an organization’s details not because someone from the organization actually filled in a form in order to be listed but because the organization’s details appear in some official list.
 

In today’s day and age, an organization that aspires to establish new contacts and retain existing ones should have an online presence. This is especially more true with organizations with one part of their heritage on the other side of the Atlantic. While those from Malta might not be able to attend the functions organized by their brethren living in New York, Michigan and San Francisco,  I am pretty sure that they would be interested in knowing what is happening and maybe occasionally even exchange an email or chat online. An online connection is even more important now that the first and second generation Americans have taken over the reins of these clubs. For many of these American Maltese people, the only knowledge of Malta is through the lives of their parents and grandparents and maybe a holiday spent in Malta.

Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) would like to offer all Maltese American organizations a free web page and email address. This will allow them to announce their events and to stay in touch with the rest of the world both at home as well as in Malta. For more information contact us on info@StarsAndStripesMalta.com.

Backdated Taxation - The Problem of Many

If you are an American citizen living aboard you have to file a tax return every year if the income meets the minimum income filing requirements for filing status and age. You will need to report all income earned in Malta and elsewhere. These requirements are the same irrespective of whether or not you are living in the United States.

Table: Minimum Income Filing Requirements for Filing Status and Age

IF your filing status is...	AND at the end of 2009 you were...*	THEN file a return if your gross income was at least...**
single	under 65	$9,350
	65 or older	$10,750
married filing jointly***	under 65 (both spouses)	$18,700
	65 or older (one spouse)	$19,800
	65 or older (both spouses)	$20,900
married filing separately	any age	$3,650
head of household	under 65	$12,000
	65 or older	$13,400
qualifying widow(er) with	under 65	$15,050
dependent child	65 or older	$16,150

Source : http://www.irs.gov/publications/p17/ch01.html

Until the year 2000, a number of our members were coerced to lose their US citizenship. This happened during a time when Malta did not tolerate dual citizenship. After the year 2000 Malta passed legislation that allowed people its citizens to also be citizens of another country. Many of those who had been coerced to lose their US citizenship made use of the services of Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) to present their case so that their US citizenship is given back. The absolute majority were successful.

The positive outcome letter from the Department of States informs the applicant that he had “never ceased to be a US citizen”. This means that all of a sudden the person is faced with a situation in which he has not filed the annual 1040 tax declaration ever since he had lost his US citizenship. This would be at least 10 years (when Malta changed its legislation), but for many some members more than 35 years had passed since they had lost their citizenship.

Many of SASM’s members who have gotten back their US citizenship are not sure what they are supposed to do. While they do not want to get into trouble and have problems with the IRS, filing 20 years of back taxes is a daunting task especially when one takes into account the fact that tax legislation changes annually. Since the wages in Malta are considerably less than those in the US, many people will not be eligible to pay US taxes. For example, the maximum income exclusion for individuals residing abroad for 2009 is $91,400. But not paying taxes is different from not filing in the necessary forms!

SASM will be presenting its member’s case to the IRS in order to find a solution that is workable and that will benefit its members.

If you would like to voice you opinion on the matter, please send an email to infor@StarsAndStripesMalta.com.

Why SASM?

As president of Stars And Stripes Malta (SASM) I am honoured to welcome you to SASM’s first blog entry. SASM enters the Maltese social and political arena at a time when Malta forms part of the EU block. This gives Maltese citizens the freedom of movement and opportunities that an area of almost 4.5 million square kilometres and half a billion people can generate. Today Malta acknowledges that the name of the game lies in being on the forefront of the hospitality, financial and technological industries rather than being a rock of strategic and military importance. The US is the only superpower in the world that has the capacity to project dominating power and influence anywhere in the world, and sometimes, in more than one region of the globe at a time.

At the micro level, within homes, many people have stronger ties to the US than what may be interpreted from the macro state of events. Malta was, for many years, a country that exported manpower and the United States of America was one of the countries many people hoped to make their fortune in. Some of the emigrants returned back while others have established roots too deep to return. For those who eventually returned back to Malta, the fact that they lived in the US for any length of time gives them a sense of US belonging. And this is even reflected in their children and their grandchildren. On the other hand those who remained in the US are now fully blown Americans who, together with their children and their grandchildren keep alive the Maltese roots. Together the people maintain the Malta-US link. Technology helps each side to establish and retain this link. Malta is home to about two thousand US citizens. A large percentage of these are US nationals who were born and raised in the US and who have no ancestral relationship to Malta. They reside here for reasons of love, work or both and their duration on this island can vary from a short few months to the foreseeable future. These people try to balance the US way of life with the Maltese one.

SASM aims to be a dynamic organization that will inform and be active on those matters that affect its members. Dual taxation, citizenship of children of people who have recovered their US citizenship, entry visas, work permits, investment opportunities are just a few of the topics that come to mind. Each one needs lots of work in its own right and that is why SASM came into being. SASM is a non-profit organization and it is driven by its members. To be successful we need your help. Hop over to http://www.starsandstripesmalta.com/ and become a member (free); contact us if you would like to pitch in.

Alan C. Bonnici