Maltese festa culture and the police

It was Saturday – the eve of the feast of St Helen in Birkirkara. I was passing by one of the band clubs here and I was astonished, flabbergasted, stupefied and dumbfounded at what I heard.

In a band club window a very powerful speaker was put up and CDs were being played. No, these were not exactly lively band marches like those which many of our learned bandmasters compose, or the hymn of the patron saint whom the locals here seem to be so fond of.

All I could hear were insults to the other band club. At first I thought something was wrong with me. I couldn’t believe my ears; nor could I believe how this abuse was allowed both by the authorities of the club and even more so by the police.

It is difficult to convince me no one else could hear those blasting decibels, audible from far away.

But I wondered: is this our culture? Does this make us European or does it classify us as a sub-Third-World country; jungle-like people who have not yet seen the light of civilisation?

Are we the nation that most honorable people like the late President Emeritus Guido de Marco and others fought for so we may shine with the rest of the civilised world?

I am sure this also happens in other places on the island at this time of celebration and I wonder why the police do not intervene. I do not suppose that insulting, offending and being rude and discourteous – to put it mildly – to others is legal and lawful, especially when done in such a public and open way.

What does one expect of this? A reaction from the other band club would be more likely, which would only result in a fight. Only when somebody gets hurt do we start discussing what can be done to prevent such disastrous situations. But isn’t prevention better than cure, or have we now become a society that doesn’t practise what it preaches?

Under such conditions, no decent, sensible being would dare go anywhere near a feast. And why should local feasts, which are so dear to many and so much a part of our culture, become the monopoly of a few who have no respect for others and who cannot behave like decent human beings?

Is it possible that in order for these people to celebrate and be happy they must insult and offend others for no valid reason?

Police should have a big say in this. These CDs were recorded long ago and the sound system was put in place days before too. And I don’t think these were played only when I happened to be passing by.

And in all probability all this is done in honour of St Helen. Who knows how happy, esteemed, dignified and reputed she feels up there and how proud of these charming, wonderful people who revere her so ardently and devotedly she is!