Whenever Independence Day comes along we are reminded of our political convictions.
Some may wonder whether they have them or not, whether they are still relevant and if we are currently upholding them, fighting for them or have abandoned them to the ever changing mood of the day, switching as the wind blows.
With all the emoticons we have at our disposal, to add a smiley face here and a frowny face there, a thumbs up or a thumps down and all the many Gifs and quotes, it is possibly quite realistic to say that for many, these symbols are closer to their self-expression than the words of a politician who is one day saying one thing and then doing the opposite the day after winning election.
Never more so than with this current administration, that not only put all political convictions aside for the sake of populistic and narcissistic ambition, but also has no qualm to replace conviction with self-serving, materialistic and essentially primitive instincts and a total absence of moral and political truth.
Recent events from the interview of Leo Brincat at the European Parliament in front of MEPs, with his “I had no choice” absurd claim with regards to his having voted in favour of Minister Konrad Mizzi in the vote of No Confidence, to the shameful controversy of the Prime Minister’s man in position of trust – Neville Gafa’ – embroiled in the visa medical scandal and the subsequent threats made to the person who came forward with this information, to the strange replies in Parliament in relation to the setting up of a private company by Transport Malta chief, James Piscopo, have led us to believe that we are the ones who must be holding the wrong convictions and that anarchy is the normal way.
Because it is reaching a state of anarchy where all convictions are turned upside down, beaten into submission, manipulated, disguised, whisked aside and the people are nothing more than a vehicle for the narcissists to get elected to power.
What is a narcissist? Many find it hard to define in simple terms. On its most basic level it is about emotional manipulation of co-dependents. A narcissist will hold ideas of grandeur and superiority, whilst being unable to feel emotion or care about another person or situation, even when this harms people around them. They often exaggerate their success and show-off. The co-dependent is transfixed by the Human Magnet who has power and control over them.
In this case, our political convictions are of no real consequence, when we are convinced that a person is everything we need and we should do all we can to please them.
This is where we may expect that the position of former Labour MP Leo Brincat was not that of fearing political wilderness but more likely, the fallout of the injury to the grieved parties – Joseph Muscat and Konrad Mizzi, should he have gone against the vote. Damage inflicted by emotional manipulators on co-dependents should they say No, is often very serious.
Many of us have allowed our convictions to become weak and manipulated.
Simon Busuttil has said that people prefer men of principles but what principles do people hold these days?
That is the debate which should be raging right now. Where do our convictions lie? What principles do we believe in? Or are we, as a nation, like a Europe without borders able to come and go as we please? Can we identify the right principles? Who will tell us what they are, with conviction?
If you had to ask young South Africans today, many of them do not even know what Nelson Mandela stood for and barely, what part he played in the course of their freedom.
With Brexit more fresh in young people’s mind, than gaining independence from British rule in Malta, Independence Day should now serve as a platform from where the political leaders can take people forward to the future and away from the regressive and harmful abuse of their dignity and intelligence, as manifested by the government of Joseph Muscat. Once we had British rule. Now we have No rule – to say the least.
More than ever, we need a party that will take pride in its convictions, not be afraid to uphold them, to debate them – always if there is even a worthy opponent out there – and to shape them into a credible leadership, one that is not based on the ego of one man but the spirit of the whole.
People too need to stop and consider all that has been happening in these past years and evaluate if they identify with the lack of principles, lack of substance and personal success at all costs that has been driving this administration. Generally, if you spot it, it’s there. So, if you think you see corruption, chances are it’s there and no funny stories and trick tales are going to change it.
21st century convictions come from a long period of the individual as opposed to society or the community. People do not even know what shared values are any more. They refer to their own set of values and do not concern themselves much if they differ from others’.
Today, however, both Europe and the individual are realising the cost of this selfishness and irrelevance. Many are seeking new identity and values and are committing themselves to the betterment of themselves and society. They see that some personal boundaries are needed. Many NGOs and even celebrities are staking their causes towards a better society and a better world albeit less prosperous. Freedom does not mean the freedom to abuse and it comes with responsibility.
We can look to the past to see how we can move forward to the future. Remaining in this miserable state is not a choice any longer. It is time to say No.