As the political parties prepare their general election campaigns, many citizens await the near future with dread because of the likelihood that politics will start impinging upon every aspect of everyday life in the Maltese islands. As such, it is crucial that the run-up to the next general election will not be marred by political intolerance manifested in the "us" and "them" approach by the politically immature.

It is worthwhile to start by asking ourselves if the "us" and "them" approach still makes any sense in the year 2007. I have written many times about the fact that people today are much more educated than in the past. This means that many have a mind of their own and will not be influenced by traditional family voting trends. This is especially true of the younger generation, particularly youngsters who will be voting for the first time. Today, you can't even bet that your own son or daughter will vote for the political party you support.

Furthermore, you also have a situation where many people have married partners with different political opinions. In this day and age, it seems imbecilic to give weight to political opinion when choosing the partner one wants to share life with. What does this imply? This implies that only prize-idiots will refer to the supporters of the opposing political party/parties in a totally denigrating manner. When one is rude and insulting in one's approach towards the opposing political party/parties, one may be offending the political sentiments of one's son-in-law, daughter-in-law, etc.!

Perhaps some politically-intolerant people do not fully realise the damage they are causing the political party they support when they speak in a politically intolerant manner. Some time ago, a political candidate told me a story that speaks volumes about this. A canvasser of his was putting leaflets in letterboxes in a neighbourhood well-known for its support of the candidate's political party. Feeling at ease in such a politically-friendly neighbourhood, the canvasser started boasting that, when his candidate would be elected to power, he would quickly "deal with" those workers who supported another political party and would take care of those who supported his own.

Now this was nothing but a show of immature bravado on the part of this canvasser. In fact, when the candidate heard about it, he immediately dismissed this canvasser who was more a liability than an asset to him. However, the damage was done. My friend told me that several people who were related to workers of a different political opinion were alarmed and believed the canvasser. Some were already openly stating that perhaps it would be wise to cancel their vote, after all. The candidate had to visit the neighbourhood and personally reassure potential voters that what the canvasser had stated was baseless and something he had simply invented on the spur of the moment. Despite the candidate's reassurances, a number of people in the neighbourhood remained sceptical.

Finally, of course, one has to mention the important role of the media in creating an atmosphere of political tranquillity and tolerance. Citizens are highly influenced by the media. So it is essential that the product of the media will not be one that facilitates political polarisation but the opposite. This applies particularly in the case of the political parties' media. Yes, obviously, one has to promote one's political point of view and criticise that of one's opponents. It should, however, stop there. Attack the policy, not the politician as a person.

At the end of the day, the aim of a general election is to elect to power the political party that will best serve the national interest. Character assassination, ruining political careers, dividing the nation on political grounds, creating tension and insulting others who hold a different political opinion should all be avoided like the plague. Because when the dust settles, one undeniable fact remains true: We are all Maltese, members of the same nation.