Among other legacies that Adam and Eve left to future generations was the "blaming game". Theirs was a game quite advanageous to play, having its strong roots in the Garden of Eden.
Our modern world - and Malta is certainly no exception - is very fond of passing the buck. Humans want the praise, the compliments and all the merit when things go well. But when things go wrong they shirk responsibility. Indeed, this behaviour is typical of the game played for the first time by our very first parents.
When Adam was asked why he disobeyed and sinned, he promptly said: "It was on account of the woman you gave me." He did not plainly say his wife. He actually blamed God: "On account of the woman you gave me". On her part, Eve blamed the serpent, and the buck was quickly passed on.
The wise US President Harry Truman used to have a sign on his desk reading: "The buck stops here." Many politicians in Malta will do well to reflect on this and be ready to assume responsibility for their mistakes and gross blunders.
Years and years ago it used to be said: "To err is human: to blame it on someone else is politics." One very much regrets the quite irresponsible line of action of certain politicians and some trade unionists in these past years for their negative attitudes also where problems of national interest are concerned.
No wonder that many Maltese are gradually losing interest in politics and politicians. It is hardly surprising that one expression in circulation nowadays is: "Politicians will always be there when they need you".
Nowadays the average Maltese voter is very critical of politicians who are not only negative in their attitude to the welfare of the nation and whose objective is to get personal votes and make political mileage. Some politicians even find it easy to resort to untruth. These politicians would do well to reflect on what C.P. Scott (editor of The Manchester Guardian) famously said: "Comment is free but facts are sacred."
At this point, it is appropriate to quote from the appeal made by the bishops of the Basque region and Navarre to the terrorist organisation, ETA to end violence in Spain: "We believe in the pacific force of truth. We reject lies as a strategy and the manipulation of truth in the service of political interests. We rely on the liberating virtue of truth."
All politicians, trade unionists and all those of goodwill are aware that there are bound to be differences and these can be resolved if conflict is managed correctly.
Mother Nature also has a lesson to share with some politicians and their shoulder-to-shoulder trade union companion - for better and for worse - that "separate from one another, burning branches produce only smoke, but brought together they blaze forth into a powerful flame". But will fanatics ever learn?