On a Sunday morning, a father decided to take his kids to Valletta to explore Il-Monti - a formerly popular street market located in Valletta that was significantly reduced in size in 2016. Around midday, the man and his kids boarded the bus to return home. Throughout the trip, the kids began to act out and grow fidgety. They hopped onto the bus seats and disturbed a man seated right in front of them. The man suddenly glared at the father and said, "Hey Joe, don't you think it would have been wiser to leave some of these kids at home?" The father responded right away: "That's precisely what I did!"

The notion that Maltese families had many children around the mid-20th century is likely familiar to anyone who lived through those years.

In the mid-1950s, the island was the site of the Round Table Conference where British delegations deliberated on the suggested inclusion of Malta in the United Kingdom. Aneurin Bevan (1897-1960), a progressive Labour MP from Wales and the creator of the UK's National Health Service, provoked local resentment when he talked about the effects of British civil law on the highly religious island with Archbishop Michael Gonzi of Malta (1885-1984).

In these discussions, Bevan offended the local people by stating that the Maltese reproduce like rabbits, and he referred to the church officials as the oppression of a feudal archbishop. Bevan's message resonated throughout Malta's Rediffusion network and created a significant impact on Maltese-British colonial history. Individuals recall the way Bevan's voice echoed through the streets and how the Maltese experienced a swift surge of defiance. Malta's Rediffusion network transmitted every word, and the effect on British colonial history was significant.

Currently, Malta is evidently boosting its population not through natural means but by bringing in numerous workers from various parts of the globe at the expense of our language, culture and quality of life.

Albrecht Dürer's (1471-1528) 1506 painting 'Madonna with the Siskin' presently exhibited at the National Museum in Berlin, depicts baby Jesus carrying an early kind of a soother, like a cloth pouch containing poppy seeds or sugar. Meanwhile, in 1901, Christian W. Meinecke patented the first identifiable contemporary pacifier, the "Baby Comforter".

Given that child upbringing was such an important part of family life in Malta, it's no surprise that there are countless Maltese sayings about child rearing, particularly the pacifier. For example, 'tefagħlu l-gażaża' (to throw someone a sop) refers to silencing someone or ending an argument. It means you effectively "soothed" or silenced a petulant opponent.

Aside from the pacifier, our forebears utilised various objects to quiet their children, such as 'il-maxtura' or 'il-kumfert', which are derived from the English word 'comforter'. These are the terms used to describe a security blanket or comfort object that infants use to calm themselves down.

Aside from these strategies for soothing newborns, parents used gripe water (a pleasant liquid herbal supplement) acquired from the chemist without a doctor's prescription, at least in the 1980s. The beverage was given to babies to help relieve stomach-ache, trapped gas, bloating, and hiccups.

Greek philosophers viewed comforting dogmas, conventional illusions, and ideological shields as infantile "pacifiers" that hinder true wisdom and mature self-reliance.

Around 1000 AD, the Roman satirical poet Juvenal (AD 55-128) created the term 'bread and circuses' (Latin: panem et circensis) to describe a government that employs money, food, and amusement to pacify its citizens.

To preserve authority, the Roman administration endorsed two large-scale public initiatives (a) The grain distribution (Cura Annonae): the Roman state managed the grain supply and provided it to countless adult male citizens free of charge or with substantial subsidies; (b) Circuses: the government built enormous venues such as the Colosseum - the largest amphitheater in the world, (for gladiatorial battles) and the Circus Maximus, a chariot-racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located between the Palatine and Aventine hill.

The events were completely free to the public. They served as a tremendous psychological distraction, diverting popular fury and attention away from government corruption or military failures and into sporting rivalry.

Juvenal employed the term not to commend the government, but to condemn the apathy of the Romans. He lamented how the people had turned complacent and unethical. When Roman citizens possessed the power to choose generals and govern the state, they willingly surrendered their political freedom, voting rights, and civic duties for two things: satisfaction of hunger and entertainment.

Currently, political scientists and sociologists utilise the term "bread and circuses" to illustrate how contemporary governments and societies apply analogous tactics to maintain public compliance. The term "bread" denotes contemporary subsidies, whereas "the circuses" signifies current distractions.

To satisfy their need for control, people focus on immediate gratification and distract themselves from politics, leading to lower levels of political participation and awareness.

The Spanish philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) once observed in his book The Life of Reason (1905), "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." In contrast the American Mark Twain (1835-1910) wrote, "History never repeats itself but it does often rhyme," capturing the idea that while exact events do not clone themselves, similar events and human reactions recur across eras.

Taking Malta as an example, it becomes clear that both Malta and the actions of its government align perfectly with the framework I have just outlined.

The Maltese government utilises funds not only to divert public attention but also to ensure citizen satisfaction by providing the essential purchasing power to acquire goods and services, transforming potential political dissatisfaction into instant pleasure. This further distances individuals from the actual state of the island's socio-economic situation. Through these kinds of strategies, adopted by the government, it has planted the seeds of greed and a perception of abundance and wealth among the Maltese population. The fleeting 'happiness' that the Maltese are experiencing has a price that will ultimately fall back on the Maltese.

The focus placed on a 'cash' economy by the government is so significant that it has transformed the essence of Maltese society. Everything revolves around 'money', leading to the Maltese adage 'mingħajr flus la tgħannaq u lanqas tbus' (no cash, no one cares). Wealth has increasingly come to characterise the concept of 'generosity'. There is relatively no kindness in 'kind' but only in 'cash'. What used to characterise Malta as a profoundly religious nation has now been substituted by a 'new' belief that has unsettled the core principles of the Catholic Church on the island. A country that is slowly losing its moral principles. A circumstance that may result in the demise of a nation. We are a nation that cherishes our homeland, yet we cannot be a people who see no further than the end of our noses.

An additional method used by the government in its interaction with the public is 'visualisation'.

This relates to the upkeep of 'well-maintained' roundabouts that are clearly seen by all travellers, the operation of street sweepers on our already tidy zones, the presence of heavy machinery, the sound of noises in our roads and paths, or regular traffic delays caused by construction and other developments. Such operations send a message to the public that the government is busy at work for the welfare of the community.  What matters is to project a public image of things being fine and the country operating at peak efficiency, while in truth, these actions serve only to irritate rather than address the deep-rooted problems confronted by Maltese society.

When discussing the use of displays and other events organized by government, one is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of evidence provided. Exhibitions that serve as an effective gauge of public alienation. These occurrences are clearly widely publicised on national media to make sure the message reaches the public. For instance, right ahead of the 2026 General Election, the government organised an extravagant exhibition called 'Vision 2050,' which, despite its glamorous façade and inflated displays, failed to convey any genuine 'vision' for the future, but it certainly drew the attention of the public visiting the capital city.

While considering the topic, this obsession with wealth that the government has ingrained in the Maltese and, which has now deeply penetrated our identity, has caused us to become apathetic and detached from what is authentically Maltese.

The capital city serves as a perfect example. Valletta was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and named a European Capital of Culture in 2018. It spans 0.61km² and is the smallest capital city within the European Union. This so-called 'cultural' city, to say the least, has now become a massive circus. Vibrant umbrellas obscure the view of what Bejamin Disraeli visting the island in 1830 called our capital city: 'a city built by gentlemen for gentlemen'. Well-known attractions in this formerly tranquil city have been transformed by pointless noises and colourful tents from numerous eateries and cafés in the vicinity. In truth, they have seized control of every sector. These actions are driving away the inhabitants who previously resided in our capital city, resulting in a yearly declining population as notable facades have been entirely destroyed.  Unfortunately, a great deal of damage has taken place, and to improve, we must first shift our mindset.

Clearly, there are plenty of concerts and other performances available - remarkable public displays that intoxicate the populace and persist in broadening the divide between the citizens and the government's actions.

However, the most impressive event is undoubtedly the yearly budget, the period when the government showers cash on the local community.

What was relevant to the ancient Romans is now also applicable to this small island state. Strategies implemented by the government to persist in controlling the local populace in order to realize its long-term objectives, particularly those related to electoral victories and retaining power. Nevertheless, individuals must understand the true situation and recognize that together with the government, we are slowly destroying a nation that Arnaldo Fabriani  called 'il fior del mondo'. The government clearly needs to change its methods regarding the island's social and economic development, favouring strategies grounded in thoughtful consideration, especially since land and space are scarce on this island. A circumstance that is affecting the mental well-being of our nation. Should this strategy persist, we will certainly be a nation that is easily satisfied and readily impressed.

Godwin Ellul is a reviewer and translator of books into Maltese, including the Medical History of Malta by Dr Paul Cassar.