At a time when Italo-Maltese relations were being tested to the limit over the immigration issue that Matteo Salvini, the Italian Minister for the Interior, has turned into a colossal European incubus, Malta’s recent handling of the umpteenth EU face-off in the central Mediterranean was yet another diplomatic coup. It went to show the oft-said adage about Malta – “small island, big heart” – is no idle play with words, but a true reflection of the island’s people and its history, going back to the Gospel account of St Paul’s alleged shipwreck here.

It also highlighted the difference between the irrepressible Salvini, whose method and style have more of “the chop” than “the pat”, and our Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, who typically seeks to tackle the problem by always being willing to discuss, to offer alternatives and to be positive about the future of those unfortunate men, women and children fleeing from war, poverty and torture. Tiny Malta actually gave a perfect lesson to ‘prima gli italiani’, Trumpian Italy by first saving lives, then persuading others to provide shelter.

Admittedly, it is not infrequent for many of us to actually go into Salvini mode. In our case, especially, the Lilliputian size of the territory, the stressful demography and the limited resources make it a lot more difficult. However, on the issue of immigration Malta has done more, per capita, than any other EU member state. This is finally being recognised by even those who were so quick in trying to lump all the central Mediterranean immigration activity onto our laps. Even the Italian media, for far too long featuring half-truths and making erroneous statements on anything to do with Malta, seems to have had a change of heart. I am sure many, like me, have noticed the changing tone of RAI and Mediaset reports on immigration. His Master’s Voice?

Not that anyone in his right mind would think that now, after the latest rescues, all’s right with the world. The boatloads of desperate immigrants will not stop coming. It is why Italy and Malta have quickly made it clear in a joint communiqué that the current situation cannot be left to persist, expressing their hope a fairer European Union-wide migration policy is adopted. They rightly called for the setting up of a permanent, pan-European structure that would go further than mere reforms of the Dublin Treaty, a topic both countries insist should be high up on the agenda of the forthcoming European Council meeting.

Best of friends again? I doubt it, but it is a beginning. The immigration problem is so immense it cannot be solved by bunching together three, four or five member states in the hope that their endeavours and their benevolence can be taken for granted by the rest of the EU. Particularly those member states which continue to insist they are not even interested in discussing it. They have simply brought down the shutters, built the walls and now believe they can live happily ever after in the comforting knowledge that the selfish, racist attitudes of their pure-breed brothers and sisters of the nation are safe, pampered and protected.

What irks you more is the fact the vast majority of these nations are staunchly Catholic. Poland even had a Pope! Yet, they seem to ignore the appeals Pope Francis frequently makes for Europe to open its doors, to greet the refugees and to help integrate the immigrants, regardless of race, skin colour and religion.

They’re ok with traditional rituals that have no meaning in 2013, with gold-strapped churches, statues and saintly effigies for the tourist, but when it comes to showing a heart with desperate humans who are not as lucky, people seeking a future for themselves and their families – as millions of Europeans did before and immediately after the Second World War – suddenly, religion does not feature anymore. It becomes an exclusive domain where nationalistic and populist ideas fan the political fires now burning away across Europe, but mostly in the ex-communist East where, come to think of it, even national football squads do not a single black head show. Noticed that, too?

 

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One step too far?

Many people are rightly losing patience with the extreme side of political correctness, especially when this has a socio-religious tinge to it. Societal sensibilities are a very strange thing and one has to traipse carefully when it comes to personal beliefs intertwined with educational ambitions that end up producing the opposite result.

The first item in my piece today, I think, shows clearly where I stand on the issue of immigration and the need for not just the rescue of precious human lives but also for effective and proper integration. Yet one has to be aware of the pitfalls when the well-intentioned take one step too far. Take Denmark, for example. The method of integrating Muslim refugee children into Danish society was recently at the centre of a fierce debate after a video of Danish pupils featured them “being trained” to recite Islamic prayers, naturally prompting harsh criticism from everywhere, but particularly high-flying conservatives.

Labelled as “Koran indoctrination”, the video showed an African boy teaching his third-grade schoolmates his daily prayer ritual, under the careful guidance of their teacher. The footage ends with the class kneeling and chanting “Allahu Akbar”.

Inevitably, the outcry had some liberals lamenting this could have been a step too far, and so-called defenders of European values insisting the school was at fault in trying to teach people about different religions. They argued “it is one thing teaching them what goes on, but getting them to actively pray is a violation of their European and human rights.”

While it is true that learning about different faiths and different cultures is a must in a multicultural society, something we are presently experiencing here in Malta, there has to be more caution as to how one goes about it. One thing is certain, you won’t find a single Muslim school anywhere in the world teaching students on how Christians pray, let alone asking them to join in some sort of Christian prayer.

 

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Promises unkept

Remember way back when the old ‘Strina’ telethon used to declare massive figures of pledged contributions for the Community Chest Fund, only to soon realise a hefty chunk of the promised revenue never materialised? This was when people just phoned in to pledge their amount or that of their workplaces, with no electronic record they had done so. It was and felt cruel until the whole technological process was happily upgraded and one’s call was immediately established and acknowledged.

All this came to mind when I read recently that only £38 million of the £850 million pledged by France’s richest families have so far been received for the reconstruction of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Three months on from the devastating fire, that is less than five per cent of the amount promised.

One hopes it is the inevitable summer lethargy that is behind the slow influx and not second thoughts. For church-goers and non-church-goers alike, the iconic 800-year-old Notre Dame certainly deserves it phoenix return.