A temporary exceptional return to the hustings has made the year 2011 quite extraordinary for me.I am, of course, referring tomy active participation in thereferendum on the introduction of divorce legislation last May.

I started my political career vowing to keep my distance from the other side. I now realise how much this approach was immature and foolish- Micheal Falzon

It was an unusual experience in that I found myself fighting for a cause together with others on the other side of the political divide – people from both Labour and Alternattiva Demokratika. The more I think about this experience, the more I realise how much bias and prejudice are so commonplace in the political arena.

People in politics carry baggage – the longer people are in politics, the bigger the baggage, whether self-inflicted or unfairly thrust upon them. Character assassination has existed in humanity since time immemorial and will always remain part of the political scenario all over the world.

When I first entered the House of Representatives 35 years ago, I realised that it was easier to relate with people ‘on the other side’ if I had known them before at school or at University, i.e. in an environment that was outside the constraints of politics. It took me a little longer to get acquainted with the others.

One bizarre moment was when as a new opposition backbencher, I faced Agatha Barbara, a minister on the government side. I had not seen or met Barbara since I was a student at the Lyceum in 1956 – some 20 years earlier – when she was theMinister of Education who had come to address the naughty Lyceum boys who had protested because our Sports Day had been cancelled.

The difference between one circumstance and the other was astounding. It was not Barbara that had changed, but my perspective of her.

I was impressed when once she chided one of her colleagues for daring to suggest that Labour was destined to remain in power forever!

Later, she was the President during one of the most difficult times in our political history.

The chasm between the opposing sides of our political divide is unbridgeable for those who allow their prejudice to overtake them.

Many hardline supporters of one party or another used to complain that their MPs opposed each other vociferously in the House and then went to have a drink together in the bar, as if socialising with ‘the other side’ was tantamount to treason.

I started my political career vowing to keep my distance and avoid even thinking of bridging the gap. After the toll of so many years, I now realise how much this approach was immature and foolish.

When I first became an MP in 1976, Dom Mintoff was at the peak of his political career and one could sense the threatening atmosphere in the House.

I could not understand how Guido de Marco used to converse privately with so many Labour personalities as if they were his bosom friends.

Some of them were actually friends of his, I later discovered. Guido – who later was also President – was right, of course. And I was wrong.

Today the situation is quite different and over the years, I have not only realised that I started off on the wrong foot in my relations with ‘the other side’ but have also somewhat mellowed, probably also as a result of my age. My rabid hostile political attitude is no more.

This does not mean that I have forgotten what happened in the past or that I now believe that Malta can afford to ignore the lessons of history.

My experience earlier this year of cooperating with people with whom I shared a particular cause, but with whom I disagree on political grounds, has been an eye-opener.

More than ever before, I realise that ‘the others’ are mostly decent human beings with their own foibles and baggage andthe character that makes each individual tick in a particular way.

Looking at the comments made on websites about different contributions in the press, it does seem to me that the majority of people are stuck in a box and cannot think outside it.

The bias is incredible with comments on opinion pieces that are – more often than not – ad hominem: depending on who the author is and which party the author is associated with, rather than objectively on the opinion expressed.

Yet, on Republic Day, President George Abela said that the Maltese are becoming more politically mature and that it is now time for the political forces in our country to consider the proposal of the setting up of a Council of State, whose role, even though consultative, may be of assistance in the discussion of various matters of national importance that may arise from time to time.

This is, undoubtedly, a good idea; but without the objectivity that frees us from the shackles of prejudice, this exercise cannot succeed.

• May I take this opportunity to wish the editor and staff of The Sunday Times and all its readers a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

micfal@maltanet.net

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