Recently in The Times there were many letters depicting different manners in which we all could live and lead our lives. Some agreed and some disagreed with spiritual values in modern times. Some thought they had the right to cohabitate while others preferred reflections over rationalisations. The lack of contraception use in Malta also hit the news.
With over 2,700 pre-university students having recently sat for their Systems of Knowledge examination in which they had to give their opinion and to write and reflect on modern Democracy, Civilization, Science and Technology and the Environment, it becomes quite clear that Malta has to learn to live with new, modern social problems and all that which will be thrown directly at our youths.
The very same evening I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on YouTube depicting some aspects of a meaningful life. She was the first woman ever to act as Supreme Judge in America's Supreme Court and what a meagre and difficult background she had!
Amongst her wise suggestions she included the following:
The modern crisis in which man finds himself is spiritual in nature and it will be surmounted only by the affirmation of spiritual values.
The only hope for civilization is a mature religion capable of uniting man with himself, his God and his world, so that the old fissures will dissolve.
She proceeded to remark that as humans, we have some strong in-built human drives for self-preservation, to reproduce ourselves, to evolve our potential. The latter may lead us astray into wanting more money, more success, more freedom and less responsibility, so we can miss reading our road signs and true directions.
She loved saying how good it is to love thy neighbour for it is not only a very social endeavour but it also makes a lot of biological sense. She quoted wise words from John Wolsey about doing all the good we can, and also Kipling's poem If which tells us males what it takes to call ourselves "men".
If all the Maltese students want to pass their Systems of Knowledge examination and be original rather than regurgitating the teachers' notes, and others want to learn about God's place in our life, please log on YouTube and key in "On a meaningful life: Justice Sandra Day O'Connor" for some wise advice on the meaning of a useful life, and also how a great orator should deliver a speech and how to answer questions from the floor from young students. Students would also see how they should behave in front of university lecturers and share their experiences.
Malta needs to mature for as we mature and learn more about the science of our universe, all our society and religions will mature as well and they become closer to the perception of things as they are.