The staggering sum of €2.6 million was donated to those in need by the people of Malta and Gozo in the Strina fund-raising event held on Boxing Day, and of that, we should be proud.

Despite the international feeling of doom and gloom in terms of economy and financial outlook, the people dug into their pockets and gave donations to those who need them. The money which was raised will go to care homes, those in need of medical treatment and many, many others. Every year, we say that we cannot possibly beat the total raised the year before. Yet, each time the fund-raising event is held, we somehow manage to find more.

It is hard to put into words really, but for all our sniping and pessimism, at this time of the year, the Maltese people band together and forget all differences to do something good, to give hope to those who have none, to offer a crutch to those who cannot support themselves and to be good people.

And this brings us to another important point. How is it that a people who are so divided and so ignorant of the value of national unity can manage, on rare occasions, to do the right thing and help out their fellows who are less fortunate?

How can we, this same people that raised €2.6 million, then go ahead and tear each other to pieces on the most stupid of issues – politics and intolerance. Make no mistake, we are an intolerant people. We only have to look at how supporters of one party ostracise those who support the other. We only have to look at how gay, lesbian and transgender people are treated. We only have to look at how black people are treated. We only have to look at how people who were in need of divorce were treated.

Yes, sadly, we are fundamentalists and a good portion of the general public is ignorant. As we say here in Malta, we should examine our collective conscience. How can we, on the one hand, be so generous and giving, and on the other hand, be so callous and uncaring about others in our daily lives?

2011 was a tough year and 2012 is going to be even harder. We only have to look back on what happened this year to realise that this coming year is going to be one of graft, toil and challenges which we must overcome.

One might think it to be overly dramatic, but we only have to look at what Maltese people can do when their backs are up against the wall to know that if we all pull together as one people, we can overcome any obstacle put in our path. We only have to think about WWII or the Great Siege to draw inspiration; from ourselves.

On this note, we will end. But a special mention also has to go to President George Abela and his amazing ability to not only unite people, but to get them to participate in any fund-raising activity that he turns his hand to. He altered the prize format of the charity drive and made it a truly giving experience. For that, we should thank him and we hope that he will continue in this vein throughout his tenure. Well done Mr President and well done to the people of Malta and Gozo.