When tragedy strikes and we are overwhelmed by horrific events, our kneejerk reaction is to find someone or something to blame. We think that identifying the root cause, the instigator of the event, we can avoid a repetition.

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, all kinds of reasons have been indicated as being the motivation behind the acts of brutality – the pitfalls of multiculturalism, Islamic fundamentalists, violence fuelled by religion, disaffected youths, being too tough on the perpetrators of violence, not being tough on them – people pick the reason which suits them best.

That’s where we make a mistake. Unfortunately, there is no one foreseeable, avoidable reason behind the violence. No easy solution in sight. Hatred, yes – but we still cannot pin down what instigates that hatred. In light of this, there is only one thing we can do: pause to think and not succumb to the temptation to pass easy judgement while clinging on to compassion – the one quality which distinguishes us from the perpetrators of evil.

• Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil has tried hard – a tad unsuccessfully – to pass off the shadow Cabinet reshuffle as just another routine job. You know how it is – just another day at the party headquarters, pop over at the bingo hall down in the basement, give another soundbite to friendly media, demote practically every Gonzi relic to political hinterland.

Former environment minister George Pullicino has been rolled off the political front of house to becoming a spokesman on early and compulsory education. I foresee much merriment there as he spars with Early-Morning-Walk-Evarist Bartolo. Arsenal-loving Tonio Fenech’s shadowing role has been written off and he is now a spokesman for foreign affairs. Joe Cassar too hasn’t survived the cull. His role shadowing education has been passed on to Therese Comodini Cachia.

There was the surprise inclusion of MEPs Therese Comodini Cachia and Roberta Metsola as shadow ministers

A few other members of Cabinet during the previous administration were repotted in alternative shadow Cabinet roles. There was the surprise inclusion of MEPs Comodini Cachia and Roberta Metsola as shadow ministers and the welcome addition of Paula Mifsud Bonnici to the crew. Add to this the reorganisation of the PN parliamentary groups into teams headed by the respective shadow minister and you have what passes – if not as a Muscat-type earthquake – something of a mini tremor on the PN side.

It’s true that a reshuffle of the shadow Cabinet mid-stream is not earth-shattering news and events on the world stage have sadly overshadowed it. However, it is a step in the right direction for Busuttil.

For much of his first years in office he has been hamstrung by some members of the Gonzi Cabinet. There was no way Busuttil could go on about Labour’s abysmal environmental record (and it is really abysmal) and not have us all keeling over with laughter when Muscat pointed a finger at Pullicino of rationalisation fame.

And well, Busuttil couldn’t exactly do a Konrad Mizzi and go “Shame on you Labour politician for receiving freebies from businessmen” when he had Fenech fondling the Arsenal scarf right next to him. For although it’s true that politicians can’t be totally blameless in order to be able to criticise others, it would be much better for their credibility if they didn’t have so much baggage. Busuttil has done well to shed it.

Now that’s out of the way, he can proceed to the next logical step – letting us know what the Nationalist Party actually stands for and taking a stand on issues instead of indulging in legalese and beating about the bush.

Because until now, we still don’t have a clear idea of what the PN is for (Though we know that it is against all things Labour including the Air Malta baguette, Owen Bonnici saying Ched Evans should be given a second chance and Joseph Muscat saying Ched Evans should not).

Once that is done, the shadow Cabinet can actually start doing something instead of criticising the government indiscriminately. Apart from the fact that indiscriminate criticism makes the Opposition sound wearyingly devoid of ideas, it doesn’t seem to have been successful as a strategy. Recent polls have not shown that the incessant criticism strategy has reaped any dividends in terms of increased support. Time to change tactics there too.

cl.bon@nextgen.net.mt

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