The Maltese people have once again shown their generosity over the Christmas period.

It all started with the political parties raising thousands of liri in campaigns held on 13 December, and this was followed up by the now traditional L-Istrina campaign and the one held by RTK on New Year’s Day.

Giving money to others in need – although I would never give any of mine to a political party – is something that puts the Maltese in the forefront in terms of generosity. But I think we should now go one step further.

Generosity does not only mean giving what we can afford to do without to others. It is also being tolerant towards other people, our friends, our relatives, our neighbours. It is accepting that we are all different persons and that we have to live with this diversity. It is recognising the fact that we are all human beings and that we all have the right to live the way we choose to live.

In this respect, I think that we are sometimes lacking. We do not accept that people have a different political opinion than ours. We sometimes fight over patron saints and over a football game.

It is not only by giving money that we should be generous. That should remain, because there are many people who do not share our lifestyle. But, at the same time, we should all learn to understand that we must accept everyone else irrespective of their way of life, political beliefs and favourite saint or football team.

S. Camilleri

Sliema