Racist or practical? (2)

Joseph Sammut, MP is reported as saying: "I think racial gestures would be those found in The Netherlands, where babies born to Maltese women are segregated from the Dutch babies. This is racism".

I have extreme difficulty in accepting the veracity of this assertion.

My long experience in The Netherlands, both as a doctor in a cancer hospital as well as a patient in a general hospital, belies this claim of racism in Holland. Quite the contrary. I found that the centuries-long tradition the Dutch have of racial tolerance, and of being hospitable to the persecuted of all nations and religions, to be more than amply justified. The medical service is second to none, and delivered with the utmost compassion. I never encountered the slightest hint of racism.

If Dr Sammut can substantiate his claim of racism in this particular case I have no doubt it would be speedily rectified, as it would certainly not be the norm.

However, I suspect that this could be another of those wild claims we have sadly been forced to become accustomed to by our politicians.