The recent terror attacks in Paris and Brussels might not have broken the spirit of the European people, but it is becoming abundantly clear that things have changed and have changed for good.
Belgian politicians have warned that the capital will “never be normal again” following the most recent attacks that left 35 dead and scores injured as Islamic militants blew themselves up at the capital’s airport and the metro system
Since then, things have been very tense as security authorities patrol the streets and carry out searches. But let us put things into perspective. Following the attacks in Paris on 13 November, Belgium announced a red terror alert, the highest form of terror alert there is. But in typical human (but distinctly European) fashion, time ebbed slowly by ad things did indeed go back to normal. Christmas came and went and in the meantime, militants slowly plotted and planned before executing yet another fatal attack.
As soon as news of the attack filtered through to the rest of Europe, all nations – Malta included - deployed security at airports and ports as a precaution against anything similar happening in other countries. Thankfully it did not.
Just a few days later, it was Easter and there was massive security at the Vatican City and spot checks carried on in city centres around Europe. And the stark reality hits you. This is the ‘new normal’.
Israel has struggled with terror attacks on civilians for decades. They have military checkpoints all over their cities and people are randomly stopped and searched. Any slight perceived doubt is met with speed and force. Is this where Europe could be headed? Let us not forget what has happened in the past when London Police Officers shot a Brazilian man in the back of the head because he panicked and ran when police told him to stop and subject himself to being searched. That kind of behaviour is fuelled by paranoia.
We cannot have a Europe that reneges on all its fundamental tenets of freedom and democracy. But equally, we cannot have a Europe that habitually spies on all its citizens. It is a very fine line that we tread. If we do not get the balance right, then we could very easily tiptoe into a dystopia like the one George Orwell created in his masterpiece 1984. Sadly, the data that we now voluntarily provide to commercial enterprises is unparalleled in nature. But just as US citizens have expressed worry that the Federal Bureau of Investigation demanded that Apple unlock a phone belonging to an Islamist Militant, we too should be worried.
Safety and law and order is paramount. But how do we ensure that the authorities do not overstep the line? Perhaps it is time for serious discussion on the issue. Malta has called for more sharing of information about suspect individuals. But have we not seen time and time again that the information was there all along when some people who later went on to become mass murderers were flagged by the system repeatedly, yet never arrested, or even worse, questioned and then set loose.
This, is the new normal. Let us at least hope that as human beings, we can resist the urge to discriminate and hate just because of someone’s religion or race.