Efforts are coming together in a way that we have not seen before, to try to create the energy and will needed to defend our values and a way of life that is essential to freedom and well-being.  Some activities have reached further than others but the important thing is that a movement is gathering momentum.  "Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into conduct" - Thomas Carlyle.

The general response, though, has been that the course is set and nothing is going to change it.  There is a strong and unwavering determination to follow the course, no matter what.  In the days following the execution of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, the Prime Minister showed appreciation for the gravity of the event that had taken place but within a short time had once again, re-ordered his priorities and engaged in his normal functions, namely the selling of passports. 

All of the strategies are safe and secure.  Things that go bump in the night are securely locked away in the cupboard.  There is no need for Joseph Muscat to listen to any dissent or condemnation of the state of affairs in Malta.  All the elements in play remain one, no matter the influences from outside or even from within the country. 

There is one element, though, over which he may be losing control.  That is not the Opposition or even the civil society.  It is from those lone actors, those depraved persons who roil and boil over a slight or injury, who cannot sleep in the thought that someone may be hurting their beloved party, their possession, their might and right.  These persons are unpredictable and can act at any time.  Given the current climate of hate and confrontation, the likely hood of another grave incident occurring is high.  It could start as a minor quarrel or argument and quickly escalate into something deadly.  Or it could take the shape of a carefully thought-out plan, deliberately causing harm, possibly fatal.

Without justice, with impunity, anyone bearing a grudge or wanting to protect their interests will fester and feed on the thrill of eliminating a nuisance.  They may even see themselves as a hero, out to please the kapo and jump to the head of the group of soldiers of steel.

We remember the scenes in the Kordin Correctional Facilities right after the election of 2013 when the Minister for the Interior was given a hero's welcome there around a jubilant crowd.  The national television station, TVM, is a breeding ground for selection of news, targeting its listeners and grooming them to follow the chosen narrative.  The trolls all over the social media too, never letting one slip.  The unfailing attacks on the leader of the opposition are the indication of the sentiment of confrontation and division.   The lowering of standards to an unrecognisable level, making comfortable anyone who struggles to rise above mediocrity and moral weakness is now the natural conduct employed throughout Parliament, the civil service and the labour party.

In such an environment, a loose cannon is anywhere and could strike at any time. 

The Prime Minister and his establishment may be able to manage the repercussions of the fall out over Daphne's murder because they had long kept her in their focus or by ignoring her, trying to undermine her every revelation against them.  But what will happen if someone else is a victim or somewhere else? 

That end to violence that Joseph Muscat had spoken of when campaigning for the election would be reversed and with it anyone who had a shred of decency and concern for their own safety and that of their children. 

In fact, those days never properly left us.  Maybe they were just shifted aside until such time as they may be recalled for duty.  Many voters realised the sham of it all and were not convinced by the blue ties and woolly speeches.  But many others did indeed embrace the new labour and put their trust in Joseph Muscat. 

The question is, does trusting Joseph Muscat mean opening the door to violence, death and its accomplices?  Without a transparent and fair investigation into Daphne's killers, we will never know what comes with Muscat.

This is what people are calling for.  For Muscat to "show us the money".  To disassociate himself from the heinous crime committed and not profit from it by emboldening the sentiments of hate and discrimination between fellow citizens in the country.  Decriminalising blasphemy was the start, then come the drugs, prostitution, tax avoidance and nothing anymore is punishable.  Easy then to sweep the millions out of mind.  Out of sight is out of mind.  A criminal or two can also be rehabilitated amongst the wash.

We are talking here of a human being, a person who lived amongst us and committed herself to a life of receiving insults, threats and unkindness of all sorts from anyone who feared her.  She feared not for herself but for her family.  As a nation, we may not fear for ourselves but do we not fear God?

How comfortable are people today in facing their judgement? 

This is the burden that Joseph Muscat has placed on people.  He has condemned the country to a fate that it had always tried to stay away from.  That of becoming the outcast. 

Maybe not yet, but relatively soon, people will realise that they are alone now and hounded by the looks of judgement from neighbours abroad.  They will no longer feel welcome and receive the hand of friendship from strangers.  Pakistan and now even Saudi Arabia will be held in higher regard than us.  We are on the threshold of becoming the trash of Europe.  How pleased will people be about that?

Then they will turn to Joseph Muscat and tell him, as they told Eddie Fenech Adami before, get us back our pride and our good name.  You have made us the outcasts and the villains of Europe.  Soon, then, they will see that Muscat can do no such thing.  It is then they will see that he must go.

Until then, Muscat can walk with his nose in the air past the Occupy Justice.  He can throw taunts and cynical comments towards the opposition, he can place targeted advertorial remarks on his Sunday sermons and strutt his stuff in Dubai and at various other globe-trotting events. The spots on internet and on TV stations will project his strategy and condition the viewers.

So, either the campaign of discredit has to extend far and wide - against Adrian Delia, Simon Busuttil, Jason Azzopardi, and co, against Michael Briguglio, civil society as a group of protesters, MEPs and anyone who speaks of change and justice for Daphne or else the next victim will not be ambivalent anymore and there will be no dusting it off.

It is time, Dr Muscat, to face up to the villains that prevail freely in all corners or face the inevitable outcome of a societal breakdown and risk losing your grip.