On an individual level, a person’s identity is shaped by several factors (such as income and occupation, social class, status, religious beliefs and ethnicity) as well as the character traits that one possesses (such as whether a person is, say, humorous, smart or unapproachable). 

Identity also has to do with the way we perceive ourselves (personal identity) and how others see us (social identity).

On a national level, a nation’s identity is shaped by its culture. A society identifies with its beliefs, traditions and values and, as individuals, we are socialised into this culture and identity by our primary socialisers (family) and the secondary socialisers (school, work, peers and other organisations). 

As a Maltese nation, we occupy a geographical area which identifies our culture, history and language as a nation-state. We also have our own independent parliament and government controlling this geographical area.

As citizens, we possess a citizenship that gives us among other things, voting rights, a passport, right of residence, work and freedom of movement.

Overall, we are a nation built on sound Christian principles and values but is this strong foundation being eaten away, traded and betrayed for money?

To begin with, Malta is one of those countries that ‘sells its identity’ to rich foreign people as a short-term lucrative investment, so that such people can acquire Maltese citizenship on payment of money. This, in itself does not augur well in preserving our identity and culture.

If we take another example, that of our green spaces, generally speaking we are a nation that loves its environment and takes pride in the few and dwindling open breathing spaces left to enjoy. But there again, do we need more petrol stations in this country and give up more land? But can we stop petrol stations from flourishing with approximately 30 new vehicles on the road every day, not to mention the lack of courtesy on the roads by ill-mannered, ignorant motorists.

Malta is going for high-rise blocks, which would mean transforming our tiny country into a new Abu Dhabi in the name of economic progress. 

Reclaiming land from the sea does not seem a viable or feasible proposition to make up for land loss and mass migration to planet Mars is still a far-away option to consider. 

It seems that from all angles, our island is with its back against the wall where it comes to alternatives to increase its living space. We are now witnessing another twist as eyes are turning their attention towards the sister island of Gozo. The emerging idea is that of a tunnel linking both islands that might turn the relatively quiet and cleaner island of Gozo into the nightmarish vision of the present day mass development taking place in Malta.

Another issue of great concern is that most of the construction firms responsible for the development prefer to employ cheap foreign labour rather than Maltese personnel, on the pretext that the Maltese do not want such manual and blue-collar jobs. 

But the truth is that it is highly questionable whether these foreign workers enjoy the protection of the law. This kind of employment smacks of abuses of labour and human rights that can range from discrimination to hazardous working conditions. Many argue that this is the true reason why many Maltese are losing opportunities to work with such firms because they want to be paid well and protected by employment laws.

It is true that Malta is going through a period of economic growth in many sectors and that many people are making a good return on their investment but this is coming at what cost? 

We must also remember and consider that many Maltese still live in hidden poverty and that many cannot keep up with the rent increases in property as many vacant dwellings are still not being used. Why is it that no more housing estates and other social and subsidized housing units are being built anymore, as was done in the 1970s and 1980s?

Poverty may be hidden in Malta, but it exists and is very real to the people experiencing it. And it does not have to be Caritas, the Jesuits, Green Papers or some other NGO’s statistics and facts to prove this reality.

There are others who find it hard to get by on the income they have and are in the risk of falling into poverty. Some of the hidden poor in Malta include the homeless, the sick, the disabled, single parents, immigrants, prisoners and ex-inmates.

It is more often the case that nations are proud of their identity and culture, and the people living within its territory take steps to preserve what is good and discard the bad so that the good can be passed on unadulterated to future generations. But, this is not always the case as some societies trade their values for mere economic value.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to feel, breathe and smell the mad race for life, money and materialism. As if all that counts in life is money!

Where is that real sense of community and solidarity when real quality time could be given to the less privileged once upon a time? Does this come only once a year on L-Istrina as a cash donation to ease one’s conscience? Or is there more to loving people other than just giving cash?

Is this country also forgetting that life cannot be treated like a commodity and potential personhood cannot be destroyed on the excuse that it just a mass of cells. It is an open secret that in fertility clinics all over the world embryos are destroyed all the time. A person lies in that mass of cells. Is the state in Malta really protecting life?

A country’s identity is also noticeable by its people’s body language revealed in one’s demeanour, countenance and especially the lack of discipline on the roads.  

There is a heavy air of impatience in many people to listen and the motivating factors are personal self-seeking interest, ambition and the Euro that seem to be taking hold over everything which is lovely and worth mentioning. 

Maltese identity and culture are also being re-shaped and re-socialised by the global world dominated by the mass media of the superpowers whose hegemony can interfere in the political affairs of small countries like Malta, as stories of privacy infringement on our personal data take place. The recent Facebook and Cambridge Analytica story is sufficient testimony to this.

Indeed, tiny Malta has perhaps grown too big for its shoes and is seeing mighty big to contend with its size and resources. 

There is an urgent need for this and successive governments to slow down this maddening pace and contain ourselves in this speeded-up world and understand that ‘all that glitters is not gold’ in the globalized world.

 

Anthony Zarb Dimech