Karl Marx used to say it about religion. But people who say that their roots are in Karl Marx are distributing opiates with dire consequences for our cherished Malta.

What caused this to flash through my mind are two small episodes: we were eating out and a friend of mine started recounting about an activity s/he is participating in. I cannot give details here, but the gist was that s/he is feeling realised and content because s/he is being allowed to play games, albeit with dangerous tools at his/her disposal. In this way his/her allegiance to the present administration has been bought at a cheap price. Another person told me that Daphne Caruana Galizia should not have hurt so many people, but that this person prays for her every day. In my idea, PEPs should be put under a spotlight and that is the role of journalists in a democracy, otherwise there will be no checks and balances and Daphne was doing a normal thing in a normal democracy.

And while on this subject - that we should demand good governance - I do not want our President and our leaders to be only the face of charity but also the face of justice and fairness. Let me show you that genuine religion is not the opium of the people but can deliver salvation and liberation. John Chrysostom said: The demands of justice must be satisfied first of all; that which is already due in justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity (to the poor). And Jesus says: To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:  'We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' (Matthew 11: 16-17). Jesus urges us to search for the facts and the truth.

 

Joe Portelli

Nadur