Rachel Rachel… was a film which we had the privilege to watch in Malta. A brilliant film, though not everybody’s cup of tea, starring Joanne Woodward (Paul Newman’s wife) where the latter played the part of Rachel. A film which captured the heart of millions many years ago.

When I mentioned “Rachel” though I was not alluding to Joanne Woodward but to another Rachel. A certain Rachel Vella with her “co-star” Colin who grace our television sets every Thursday night. It is a real pity that here in Malta we praise the do-gooders of this world when they are foreign but give little importance to the great deeds done in our own backyard due to a most charitable programme called Tista Tkun Int! (It could be you).

It is indeed a programme which makes me think that Rachel and Colin are fortunate people whose every step and motive is done in the remembrance of God by helping others; therefore there is much fortune in their every moment. It is a programme for couch potatoes to learn that by watching other people’s stories; in the end, the one who knows how to adjust is the one who knows how to survive but most of all what endears me to the programme is the fact that love indeed is a most powerful force.

It can take us to unlimited great heights and leaves us light and airy. Malicious people try to degrade the programme. Some say there is a motive behind their “goodness”. Others say that Rachel Vella wears the “costume” of humility when in reality her driving force is the money she gets for doing such a programme.

Others who are enthusiastic about polluting Rachel Vella’s good name refer insultingly to her “showy clothes”, looks, hair etc. What the Maltese should realise when watching such a programme as this is that Rachel Vella has an accurate and a correct understanding of love. Her “tasks” are visibly performed with the feeling of love. That is why she is so successful in re-uniting people who have been estranged for years, making orphans happy by taking them on a cruise, etc.

Indeed in my lifetime I am glad to have lived in an era when Rachel Vella and her team on Tista’ Tkun Int! were around. My expectations are too high, maybe because I expect that a programme such as this should be approved of by all the Maltese.

Why is it that when jealousy raises its ugly head, the people we should describe in endearing terms become our enemies instead, and we do our best to find fault with the good they do? So what if Rachel Vela and her co-stars earn their money during their programmes. They deserve it, especially when one considers they work almost 24 hours a day trying to tracing people and seeking out children with a terminal illness so that they might get treatment?

Have those who hurl disparaging remarks at the programme become so twisted that they find no joy in their hearts when they see someone re-united after around 50 years apart? Or is it true that though man knows the comma and full stop of language, he knows not the full stop of negative thoughts?

Rachel Rachel… you don’t need to do commercials concerning diamonds. You are a diamond yourself.

Valerie Borg

Valletta