On 26 December 1796, Joseph Haydn presented his Missa in tempore belli (Mass in time of war, also known as Paukenmesse for his dramatic use of timpani).
Now we are going one better. We’re having an election ‘In tempore belli ', an election ‘In time of War '.
On the surface of things one cannot see the war in the Ukraine featuring in any way in our election. The news bulletins do provide information about what is happening ‘over there’ but it’s like the fighting is taking place on another planet. It simply does not affect us.
We are far from the fighting and no Maltese seem to be involved. Those who worry tend to think about rising prices but this has been going on since the time of Covid, so it’s nothing new. Lately there is some concern about the price of fuel especially since the price at the pumps here now is far below the prices in Europe. And that’s about it. Nothing to worry about. And we have our neutrality.
Such reasoning shows how many of us are still very far from reasoning as the rest of Europe is doing right now. The issues barely touch us.
For the Russian President the Ukraine is not a sovereign state but is still a province of the old Soviet empire and so Russia is right, he says, to send in soldiers to bring the province back within the fold.
But Europe and most of the rest of the world does not think so. They view the Russian invasion as a blatant attempt to destroy the sovereignty of an independent state. And by sending in a huge army, shooting its way in this vast land, bombing from the sky and threatening those who would want to interfere with a world war with the use of nuclear or poison gas.
The reaction to this invasion and subsequent butchery has been muted here. People are more interested in the election. So too they seem to be doing in Hungary whose election follows in days and even in France which goes to the polls next month.
At best, as the prime minister has said, we do not like war as we’re neutral. We went through the gestures of solidarity but these were mere trickles compared to the millions who have fled their homes. And those who somehow reached here were asked to pay for their quarantine. There are so many unoccupied dwellings, so many church institutes with empty halls. Oh but one sick child is being taken care of here.
As to the sanctions that were decided by the US and the EU we give the distinct impression we went along after our arm was twisted behind our backs. And our various institutions seemed they did not really know where to look until it was explained to them chapter and verse.
We did not send weapons to the defenders as other countries did. We were to send some medicines, which was OK. As we send to victims of earthquakes.
But somehow we avoided tweaking the tail of the Russian bear, maybe mindful of Russian millions in our banks, Russian holders of Maltese passports, Russian superyachts in our seas, etc.
When, and if, Robert Abela breaks off from campaigning and travels to Brussels this week for the EU summit to meet President Biden, will he denounce the invasion or will he stay in the corner and make as if he is not noticing the snide remarks flying around him?
We’re coming to the end of the election campaign and the election is taking place while our continent has a war in its midst, after so many years of peace. Europe has changed and become better but Russia is still the same Russia of Stalin and his pogroms.
This conflict has no easy outcome and those who speak of dialogue and mutual concessions are betraying the memory of so many innocent victims of this invasion. The Ukraine is of course sovereign to decide but only a ‘status quo ante’ honours the dead.
Putin has been described as “a thug with impunity” and it is only when his force is stopped by an equal and opposite force that we may hope to regain peace once again.
As I am writing (Friday noon) the two sides seem to have come to a stalemate, which may change over the next days. It will be a long struggle and we must be prepared to do our bit. Unless we want to scamper away to the refuge of the cowards, non-alignment.
This stance needs courage and a clear mind. We must be prepared to choose the right side and pay the consequences. As we did in WW2 at such a huge cost. We must beware of being tricked by such slogans as “Mitna ghall-barrani”.
It is time to vote to bring an end to two terms of clientelism run rampant, corruption big and small, and the unbridled sway of god-mammon which has made our island a by-word for sleaze and ruined our environment.
That would be our best contribution to the cause of the Ukrainian people. Either join them in their subjection or join them for their struggle even if not in the immediate future.
[email protected]