Ugly minorities

Malta too, has particularly ugly minorities among its people. Generally made up of no more than handfuls. But ugly nonetheless. Currently we are in the throes of realising how horribly ugly is the latest minority to peep out from its cowardly hideout.

Old minorities include those who delight in targeting the whole of society by damaging public monuments and traffic signposts, mostly during night-time. Among those whose speciality is targeting individuals, are the vicious, wielders of anonymous letters.

The gruesome minority that is at present surfacing through its attempts to intimidate by burning vehicles under the cover of darkness fires at people and groups who show humaneness towards immigrant refugees.

I do not agree that this is a manifestation of some extensive degree of xenophobia, a dislike of foreigners embedded in the Maltese psyche. Rather, what was embedded for far too long was a tendency to love what is foreign simply because it is that, and not primarily for any intrinsic value.

There is some concern over the growing influx of foreigners, whether they arrive through regular or irregular channels. But, above all, there is a not widely admitted aversion to coloured presence. Both conditions are expressed loudly by an openly vocal minority that makes scant effort to hide its inherent racism.

There is growing doubt whether this particular far-right minority should continue to enjoy opportunities that are reluctantly extended to it in the written and broadcast media, in the form of restrained factual coverage of its public activities as well as time and column centimetres to expound its beliefs.

There are legal provisions that set clear boundaries to how far such expression of extreme views can go. Provided these provisions are adhered to, it would be a mistake, I feel, to block out the distasteful views of the openly racist minority. By expressing them that minority makes the vast majority, who hold decent beliefs and considerations, more aware of the malignancy existing in the midst of our society.

On the other hand there may be those who, though not openly racist, do not at all share the repugnancy generated among the majority by the views of this particular minority. Instead, they secretly lean towards them, and might be encouraged to go public as well.

Better, I feel, that these are drawn into the open, too, than left to germinate in hiding, so that they may countered.

The worse threats come from minorities who operate from well-camouflaged dugouts. That is what is sinking into our consciousness during this unhappy time in the life of the Maltese Islands.

There can be no excuse for the way blind prejudice is turning into piercing hatred. Hooligan minorities who target public assets like monuments and traffic signs, might, were they to be able to articulate their anger rationally, plead the excuse of lack of traditional and social education, their unhappy environment or bad example from within their sad peer group.

Writers of anonymous poison letters might seek refuge in warped ambition, or in some twisted perception of having been wronged.

Those who target individuals with whom they disagree by inflicting damage on their property, possibly as a substitute to causing them personal physical harm can only try to hide behind their cowardice.

The overwhelming majority, disgusted by their actions, must not let such aggressors hide. Society can only protect itself by speaking out and acting against their indecency. By not withholding from those responsible for its security, information about those who threaten it.

There should be no mistake about it - threats and violent action against a single individual do not constitute a concern limited to that person.

Such threats and the violence are in reality against the whole of society. No one is safe from this particular abhorrent ugly minority. That is why everyone has to ask oneself what lies in one's ability to combat it. Before the horrible ugliness spreads.