On the occasion of Republic Day, the President of Malta Marie Louise Coleiro Preca gave an excellent speech. She demonstrated well, how and where political behaviour in Malta has been overstepping all limits of correctness and totally undermining good faith, all sense of loyalty towards aims and values that we should share, as well as all respect towards the personal integrity of “adversaries”. This has been taken way beyond the partisan and heated exchanges to which we had grown accustomed over the years.
The following does not explain fully why this has happened – even if I believe it accounts for much. The way by which the so-called social media operate, and how they are spreading, is increasing the vulgarity and the bitterness by which issues related to public policy are considered and discussed. The process was triggered in the mid-eighties of the previous century when vulgarity exploded in US film making.
What in the past used to be done face to face and sideways – namely personal denigration, lies or half truths, innuendos – is today openly carried out on the internet, not least in anonymous mode. This is poisoning most discourse about the choices that face the nation.
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Imriehel
As you drive along the Imrieħel bypass, you can see on one side the impressive headquarters of some of Malta’s most important companies.
If you opt to drive at their back where up to some time ago, an industrial zone was being laid out, you’ll discover a jungle.
Dilapidated streets choked with cars and trucks. Industrial entities alongside emporia where people congregate to purchase home fixtures. Confusing signposts to tell you where to find what. Workshops that seem to have morphed into snack bars. And at every corner, traffic jams.
If there is any place which as a matter of priority needs planning and ordering, this is it. Forget about Paceville.
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Strasbourg last week
The Christmas markets at Strasbourg are well known. They attract many visitors. This year, they got a bad hit.
An alert came over that they were being targeted for a terrorist attack. So, for private cars and buses, the city centrre was made out of bounds. Trams were allowed in, but they had to drive on without stopping. Meanwhile, soldiers or police personnel, both armed, were placed at all points where people could walk in to check whether those who came forward were wearng explosives.
I was there last week. It seemed to me that this time, unsurprisingly, there were much less people around than I could remember from previous years. The festive spirit seemed to have gone rather flat.
If so, it was a natural outcome. In no way could the authorities ignore the threat, once it became known.
The city of Strasbourg – like those of Paris, Nice and Brussels – has come to understand how terrorism does not only threaten security, but it also inflicts huge economic damage.