Those who lived through the 1970s and the 1980s still remember with great unpleasantness (and this is an understatement) the use of the word tixwiex (incitement) and xewwiexi. This was one of the favourite insults/threats forming part of the Mintoffian vocabulary. It was a blanket threat hurled at all kinds of critics and criticisms of the government.
Journalists were called xewwiexa. The same happened to anyone who discussed with the foreign media what was happening in Malta. The members of the Opposition were, quite naturally, the xewwiexa par excellence. As I noted, the term was not just an insult. It was also a threat that on more than one occasion was translated into action. The use of the word evidenced the belief that the government and the nation were one and the same thing. If you criticised the government you were considered to be against the nation.
The country has collectively moved light years away from this kind of political atmosphere. It is therefore very unfortunate that the word has been resurrected once more. L-Orizzont has used it on more than one occasion. This paper has made it a habit of using words and expressions that are unnecessarily harsh and downright offensive. By doing this it is undermining the cause that it claims to support.
The use of tixwix (incitement) was made in connection with words spoken by Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech during a meeting he had with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund. I do not know what Mr Fenech said. Therefore I do not want to approve or disapprove of what he said. I am neither saying that he should not have been criticised for what he said. Criticism is the bread and butter of politics. Criticism, even harsh criticism, is not only permissible but many times it is a duty.
Unfortunately the word was also used by the Prime Minister in Parliament. The use of this word was very uncharacteristic of Dr Muscat. His style can be incisive but it is not inflammatory. One should consider its use as a momentary slip. It was uttered during a heated exchange and that could explain the unhappy slip. Even Homer nods sometimes.
As I noted above, the atmosphere reigning in the country is totally different from that of the 1970s and the 1980s and the words we use should be also different. The progress our country registered is thanks to political leaders on both sides of the political divide. There is absolutely no doubt that none of our political leaders dream – let alone wish - of going down that road.
The ruling by the Speaker should help all to calm down and refrain from using words which in the opinion of the Speaker are considered to be offensive and inappropriate.
One augurs that the word tixwiex will be unceremoniously buried once and for all. This should not be difficult as the baggage it elicits fits none of our political leaders.