The day after tomorrow many residing in Malta and many more around the world will gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated in various cultures with different traditions around the globe. Locally some will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with renewed spiritual awakening. Others attend the traditional mid-night Mass.On Christmas Eve most of the younger generation will go to various nightclubs and discotheques and dance the night away.Lovers seek a romantic environment in one of the luxurious hotels ordine in one of the leading restaurants. They might want to make this Christmas Eve special. Some lovers maywish to express their feelings discreetly this Xmas!
On Christmas Eve some parents stay at homeand enjoy a fine bottle of locally produced wine and whet their appetite with some homemade appetizing bites, others kill time in front of the television. Others opt to go to bed early. Others wait patiently for their teenagers to return home safely. Once they return home safely the traditional Christmas family lunch will be the next big do planned for Christmas Day.
But I am wondering what Christmas would be like for a young skinny man, who unexpectedly called at my office a couple of days ago. In my eyes he was scruffily dressed, wearing a modern age hair-cut and two ear-rings in his left ear. He looked in his late teens or early twenties.As he walked into my office I could feel something is wrong. He started to spill the beans well before I invited him to have a seat. In a boyish voice he told me that his immediate superior had served him with an employment termination letter. Nothing extraordinary, I have seen loads in the past. Presently workers at times receive this much hated letter. And workers will continue to be served with this letter in future. Lately, while addressing a conference the Principal Permanent Secretary, Mr Mario Cutajar made it amply clear that there is no job for life, public sector workers included. I will not digress. It is a promise I will come to this statement after the festive season.
The young man quickly showed me a two liner letter stating clearly that his services were no longer required. Before I could guide him to seek assistance from a trade union he told me that he has been in employment for only three weeks. I quickly figured out - the young man was not suitable for the job. During the probationary period an employer can dismiss a worker without giving good and sufficient cause or reason.
However, he promptly told me that he was discharged from employment not because of something he did or failed to do but because of the lifestyle of his father and mother. He told me that he has gathered this information from the grapevine at the place of work. A so called Christian –a Good Samaritan - a big mouth has revealed to the directors of the company the underground lifestyle of his parents. The company alerted with this information dismissed the young man from employment forthwith.
I could not help notice that a tear escaped his eye while his lower lip was trembling. As tears continued to swell in his eyes he told me that he did not choose his parents and he abhors their lifestyle but he loves them dearly just the same.
After a moment of silence he murmured “I have been slapped in the face for no apparent reason. I will join my father and my mother in their underground lifestyle to earn my living”. As he stood up to leave, he cleared his throat and promised me “he will do it his way this Christmas”. I hope this Christmas society will not have another casualty of its own making.
I am certain all of our leaders and office holders including church leadersare striving to give their utmost to this small community. I take this opportunity to thank them all for their sterling service.However, time has come for our leaders to publicly and forcefully promote values which are basic and sound to society.
May Baby Jesus this Christmas guide this young man and others overcome the gross injustices they have suffered. Don’t stop believing.
I take this opportunity to wish The Malta Independent Board of Directors, Management, Staff and their loved ones a very Blessed Christmas. Indeed, I extend my greetings to you and to your loved ones too.
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