What Malta could teach Obama
As I watched US President Barack Obama's nationally televised discussion of healthcare with his political opposition, it occurred to me there was a particularly well informed source missing at the table - Malta.
Malta would have had a good deal to add to the inquiry into social justice that Obama's health reform efforts represent. If Malta, with virtually no natural resource other than 'love of neighbour' can provide universal healthcare, is it really true that the abundantly endowed United States cannot approximate that ideal with a reasoned insurance reform that merely enacts into law what should have been felt and pursued as a matter of personal ethics?
Malta would help the President stay true to his inaugural promise to work with all those "who come with outstretched hand rather than clenched fist".
Obama's patience and outstretched hand was well on display at Blair House as he sat down with his opposition at the legislative drafting table, under the microscope of national television, to try to extend healthcare to some additional 30 million Americans who lack health insurance.
His thoughtful ability to keep directing the conversation away from fruitless recrimination towards constructive proposal illustrated the wisdom of the people's choice in 2008.
It was an afternoon well spent because it reminded our impatient body politic of the real work that is needed to deliver on the inspirational campaign rhetoric of the 'change we need'. Indeed, the event puts this question to all US citizens: did we really believe it when we proclaimed "Yes we can!" or were we indulging in a nationally embarrassing exercise of unjustified hubris?
Obama stood on no prerogative of office or protocol when he sat down at the discussion table with those whose public persona and competing responsibilities were of a far lesser magnitude.
If there was a positive contribution from left, right or centre to be heard, it mattered not whether one was a congressional backbencher or a staff aide.
Seeing the chief executive at work was a tonic for the nay-saying, too often mean-spirited opposition and our own self-doubt.
Which returns me to the example of Malta.
Obama might well want to invite the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition over for a visit. Malta's commitment to the provision of healthcare for all its citizens is unshakeable, even as the means of that commitment are subject to constant and useful re-examination. There can be honest differences of view over how best to allocate care, or whose medical judgment is best obtained to chart a patient's course of treatment, without disserving the fundamental principle. Indeed, the current debates over these matters in Malta might usefully guide the American reform prognosis.
Obama is a problem solver. To him, the perfect is not to be made the enemy of the good.
In giving me my charge for my work here at the US Embassy in Malta, special mention was made of the President's interest in promoting mutual respect through a mutual understanding of the different faith traditions of the world.
As the communitarian scholar Amitai Etzioni has commented: Obama understands from his own inter-faith study that "there is no clash of civilisations but a clash within each civilisation; namely, between the moderate people who reject violence and those who legitimise it.
In Christianity, it is the division between those who see Christ as a prince of peace and those who see him as the sword; in Judaism, between rabbis who interpret 'an eye for an eye' as a call for compensation and the Jews who interpret the text as a call for revenge."
During Lent, as we prayerfully await the visit of the Holy Father to this largely Catholic place, it is fascinating for this visitor to contemplate how much Malta adds to the world's better understanding of itself.
Whether it be respect for life from the earliest point to natural death through the responsible provision of healthcare for all, or the insights drawn from neutrality, Malta's way reminds us that what matters in international relations is a commitment to peace, and not a utopian pursuit of perfect harmony in matters of political governance or an identity of belief in how we know or appreciate the transcendent.
Yes, Mr President, invite Malta's leaders for a chat. Better still, next time you're in the neighbourhood, stop by.
Prof. Kmiec will be at the Mater Dei Hospital Medical School on Tuesday to discuss President Obama's recent public discussion on healthcare and the future of his healthcare initiative. For further information, contact the American Embassy at [email protected].
Prof. Kmiec is US Ambassador to Malta.
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William P Flynn
Mar 1st 2010, 02:04
MrSmith
I have not read DomènecMelé to any extent but as a humanist I cannot but agree with the quote you attribute to him.
Unfortunately, the devil is in the detail. I would guess that as DomènecMelé is an Opus-Dei-Catholic cleric, his definition of human rights would be governed by his religion and its dogmas. Consequently would not equate to the definition of human rights as practiced in secular countries-USA,Australia,UK,Canada,Germany,France.
Examples would be mindsets relating to freedom and equality in sexual orientation, scientific research/reproductive medicine free from religious interference, the various hues and nuances of what constitutes and defines a modern family, liberty through secularism, church involvement in politics, and the hermetically-sealed compartmentalization of church and state.
I would be pleasantly surprised to be wrong in my prejudiced assessment; for I am only predicating it on utterances by recent popes, cardinal Pell of Sydney and the Maltese bishops.
Back to Mr.Kmiec’s article, the “mindset-gap” would render a meeting between President Obama and Maltese political leaders a meeting between cultural and intellectual aliens; especially if the purple-sashed gentlemen wangle a seat at the table, as usual.(Cringe!)
Regardless, Mr.Kmiec can bank on one thing; a memorable welcome for President Obama; anytime.
John Smith
Feb 28th 2010, 18:54
Mr. Flynn,
An organizational culture can be defined as an 'humanizing’ if it involves (i) recognition of the person in his or her uniqueness and sociability (ii) respect for human rights (iii) care for such persons (iv) management for the common good as opposed to specific interests.
Domènec Melé
J. Schembri
Feb 28th 2010, 18:46
@William P Flynn: Ambassador (and professor) Kmiec is one who wants his president to have a look at Malta's health system. Professor Kmiec believed in the "Yes we can" 'battle cry’ and now he is seeing that it CAN be done..."look at tiny Malta!"
Your approach towards the Holy Father is that of a clenched fist rather than of an outstretched hand, the ambassador's attitude is that of someone who is seeking to do something good for others , religions can be interpreted in different ways .
Religions do not divide people. It's the hunger for power which creates divisiveness.
Andrew Battenti
Feb 28th 2010, 18:16
Ambassador Kmiec,
A thoughtful essay, thank you. The link between the modern social ills on the one hand and poverty and under-education on the other; makes for some hard political choices. Not everyone can see this.
This being Lent, we are again reminded how Christ set out to fast for 40 days following His Baptism. He did not make Himself a stranger to sorrow but He can do all things.
We are with you in this. Neutrality does not makes us less so.
Andrew
William P Flynn
Feb 28th 2010, 13:59
As a humanist I believe that a health system for all is a fundamental human right. Money is always found for war and to protect the wealthy; countless billions have been found to mitigate the global financial crises by buoying those who caused it.
For a fraction of the costs of either of the above, the provision of healthcare for all mankind would become a possibility.
But religion will never be the means by which fine ideals will be harnessed for the betterment of mankind. For all religion is divisive, hierarchical, archaic and produces war and strife in the world - chief among them is your religion, Sir, and Malta's so called "official religion".
With respect, Ambassador, the very term "official religion" should offend you; for you must also be an American who believes in that most wonderful expression of human ideals, the US Constitution.
Germane to this opinion piece, the subject of health care, is the issue of the arrival of scientific knowledge to a place and time when through stem-cell research, many if not all, of humanity's terrible afflictions can be alleviated.
Your Holy Father disallows this because it uses a few human cells; (Cont'd)
William P Flynn
Feb 28th 2010, 13:56
(Cont'd)a smaller number than he sheds every time he shaves or scratches his nose that he calls humans, with souls floating in a Petri dish or a pipette.
The Pope also opposes women’s health issues in relation to contraception. This ideal is seen by independent world health organizations as the root cause of millions of illegal back-yard abortions causing an immense number of maternal deaths in Catholic countries.
Divorce is on the Holy Father’s taboo list. In Malta, thousands of families are in a social and emotional netherworld whence there is no escape.
Malta is indeed a special country where a lot of good has been done. I would concede that many good people of the Catholic faith have selflessly given much; but this is a paradox for the faith itself is a ball and chain on humanity and Malta in particular.
The leaders of both major parties lack the courage and maturity to implement a proper division between church and state. They are likely both practicing their kneeling stances in front of the Pope as they kiss his ring.
Sir, putting them, or the Pope, in a dialogue with President Obama would most likely teach the President nothing.
Please choose the reason of your report below: