From Mr A. R. Girard
I try to read most opinion columns in virtually all the English language newspapers. Now that the general election is drawing closer, I note that many political opinions are becoming more intense, more forceful, more direct and, at times, even offensive to both their political opponents as well as their readers.
The serious illness that befell the Leader of the Opposition before Christmas has exposed more than ever before the underlying bitterness that the political divide has generated over the years in this country.
Let it be said from the outset that I am no fan of Alfred Sant’s politics – in fact, I consider him to be the biggest liability the Labour Party has carried since 1998. However, the animosity, the venom and, at times, the deeply ingrained hatred that has been festering over the years has resulted in many people “forgetting themselves” and penning opinions that do them little credit, in particular when they should be showing at least respect even if they cannot find it in themselves to show sorrow or concern in times of personal and family trauma such as serious illness.
I shall not enter into the merits or demerits of whether the Malta Labour Party should or should not have dealt with the media in the way that it did regarding information on Dr Sant’s illness; either way, the escalation of bad blood that has resulted from this sad and unfortunate situation is a serious and frightening reflection of our political maturity when one considers that we are (or should be) living in a Christian community. I have read similar features in the British tabloids, but there again it is highly debatable whether Britain can still be considered as a Christian country.
Here in Malta we have the MLP General Secretary reacting to Daphne Caruana Galizia’s uncalled for (pathetic, actually) snide remarks some months back about Dr Sant wearing a wig and his having undergone cosmetic surgery on his frontal features by insinuating that she has had a couple of “uplifts” herself.
If either of these two high profile public figures aspire to impress, they are very much mistaken; indeed, I will go as far as to say that they do far more damage than good to the political ideals they so passionately believe in.
Now a few words about the most bandied about and most misinterpreted phrase in journalism – Freedom of Expression.
The one approach that is deadlier than the direct assassination of a person or one’s personality is the subtle approach and few are defter at this than Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Her latest contribution “Hey Jese, thanks for the mammaries” (TMIS, 20 January) is a case in point.
She starts off by dismissing Jason Micallef cynically and clinically in a casual, jokey manner; she then charges into Alfred Sant once again, but this time in a subtle, almost cruel way by systematically and intermittently reminding us of his medical condition but never failing to mention the dreaded word - cancer. Just in case you missed it, this was it:
Para 1: (still digging at Jason Micallef)
And so, confronted on Bondiplus with my column about Labour’s sad inadequacy in telling the country that its leader has cancer...
Para 2:.. watching Jason make a pig’s dinner of explaining why we weren’t allowed to know that Alfred Sant has cancer...
Para 3: Bondiplus tonight guys! They’re going to be invading our leader’s privacy and discussing his cancer...
Para 4:... It was a bad mistake, because it showed precisely that, and no amount of make-up could conceal the ghastly pallor...
(This I personally found absolutely shocking)
Para 4:... Jason, the sidekick asked why Sant persists in the leadership of his party when he is fighting cancer...
Para 4:... and an opposition leader who refuses to step down despite having cancer...
Para 4:... most people would prefer not to have a prime minister with cancer...
This is gutter journalism; no matter how much one despises one; no matter how much one has suffered under the opposite administration and, God knows, we, of a certain age and experience had suffered much under the Labour administration of the 1970s and 1980s, and we shall never forget!
No matter how much we fail to forget, no matter what political allegiance we profess, I am sure that all people of goodwill know deep down that this is not the way to “do politics”.
Anthony R. Girard
SLIEMA