Against racism, but no lessons in charity, please!

Cora Cecelia Campbell-Rock (Chains Of Racism, August 26) from New Orleans should first set her priorities right before trying to teach the Maltese about "one universal family". Let's make some points totally clear.

Point 1: Racism has got nothing to do with the current strong feeling in Malta against illegal immigration.

If the illegal immigrants dumping their passports were Russians, Italians or Brits, we would have felt just the same. Illegal immigrants hide and obfuscate their national identity and then expect to be treated as legal tourists. Some of them even expect to have all the social benefits without ever paying a cent in taxes. Decent law-abiding citizens do not commit such acts.

Point 2: Malta is a tiny island; so tiny that some American maps do not even place it on the map.

At the same time, it has the second highest rate of persons per square kilometre in the world and one of the smallest economies in the world. As things stand at the moment, we want to attract more investment and legal tourists from other countries. So before preaching to us to keep, feed and house illegal foreigners, who actually committed a crime when they entered the country illegally (let's not forget that), Ms Campbell-Rock should perhaps encourage and lobby American travel agents to direct more American (legal) tourists to Malta. So far, we're not impressed by the numbers of American tourists visiting us, but we are with the numbers of illegal immigrants turning up and taking up residence here.

Point 3: The Maltese have never colonised any other country, therefore we are not morally bound to help, assist and integrate illegal immigrants from Africa.

Aiding these people is first and foremost the responsibility of those countries who colonised and benefited from their natural resources. It's definitely not Malta's responsibility, although we are proud to give substantial amounts of money to communities in these countries. Each time we aid these people and try to make them as comfortable as possible when they are in Malta, we will be encouraging more illegal immigrants to land here. Illegal immigrants are definitely not stupid.

Point 4: The Maltese do not need any lessons in charity. We are among the most generous people in the world where charitable donations to other less fortunate people are concerned.

If all the people in the 25 richest countries in the world were to be given the same pro-rata per capita amount of donations and assistance as the Maltese have always done, then these African countries would be in a much better shape than they are at present. Malta as a state and the Maltese as a people have always been at the forefront and, in many instances, before many other rich and big countries, to help other people, near or far, when natural calamities or disasters occurred. But these were genuine cases.

And, please bear in mind that, Malta and the Maltese did this without expecting any economical or financial benefits in return, that is with no strings attached. How's that for charity, Ms Campbell-Rock? Can the US say that and be believed?

Point 5: We, the majority of Maltese, are not ready to condone or be accomplices in criminal acts.

In fact, we would not mind if the Maltese Parliament were to enact harsher laws, including the penalty of total confiscation of mobile and immobile property of the families (yes, families) of those masterminding this illegal immigration racket, and the other penalty of considering these racketeers as enemies of the state, with all the implications.

We can only become one universal family if the leaders of all nations respect the dignity of their own citizens, and then all nations come together as one. But this will take at least a few decades until it happens. Asking the common citizen of today, living on a tiny island with a small economy, to bend over backwards to assist hundreds of illegal immigrants, is a non-starter.