When I came to settle in Malta in 1967, I found a very beautiful, Catholic country, where families still were families, and young 18-year-old girls had to be taken home by 8pm. The majority of people went to church on Sunday, and honesty and kindness could be found whichever way you looked.

While the rest of the ‘civilised’ world got more and more ‘mature’, Malta carried on in its own naïve way, remaining nice and old fashioned. Then came a television programme that was seen and followed by practically all the Maltese population. The programme was called Dallas, and it showed us how to live in a glamorous way, to lie, cheat and live everyday life in a very unsavoury way. It showed you how to be mature.

It sounds too simple doesn’t it, but I am sure that that programme, along with others similar ones, caused great discontent and confusion among many Maltese, who then felt that they wanted to be the same; as what they perceived was the way of the ‘mature’ world.

Well, gradually things started happening that did set us on the way to maturity. Separation and divorce crept in, becoming commonplace. Along came pole dancing gentlemen’s clubs, contraceptives on display in chemist shops, Playboy magazines in local stationery shops and internet all over the islands, giving everyone access to all the decadence they desire.

Apart from the unfortunate necessity in some cases of separation and eventual divorce, I was rather proud of Malta being less mature than other developed countries. I think our striving for maturity is losing us our uniqueness and beauty.

Drugs came in, and taking drugs was the mature and in thing to do. Now Malta has an enormous drug problem. We are now more mature than others in this respect.

Massage parlours are literally appearing everywhere; dozens and dozens of them. Last week we heard that our country is thinking of reducing the age of consent for youngsters to have sex together.

Wow! That’s maturity for you.

Reading what I have written so far, readers may assume that I am whiter than white. Well I wish that were true, but unfortunately I too have accepted the changes and the modern ‘mature’ way of thinking, and have accepted, like others, the realities of today’s world. I can’t say that I am very proud of that.

I think our striving for maturity is losing us our uniqueness and beauty

Going back to Dallas for a moment, and forgetting about the cheating, sex and drugs, what about the corruption? The programme was full of corruption and how clever it was to be corrupt and get away with it. Corruption is blossoming in our country. In some areas it is almost second nature. Is this part of maturity and keeping up with the civilised world? Sadly, I think it is.

Censorship in stage plays is disappearing. It is called unrestricted and uninhibited art. Great! Soon there will be strip clubs on every corner, just as there are gambling shops everywhere. Gambling is a terrible addiction. Still, do we need addictions like that to be mature?

What is happening? What was wrong with being a good, clean, upright country, with people doing the right things? Why do we have to be like others? What’s so good about following things that are not good?

Why should we feel shy and inadequate if we don’t follow others, and decide instead to keep our principles?

Recently it has been proposed that we change the law on insulting religion. I do not object to freedom of speech, but religion is for many people a sacred and private thing that should not be ridiculed, especially in a nasty way. I would not start World War 3 over my feelings, but I would certainly be very annoyed and would expect the perpetrators to be made to keep their feelings to themselves.

Now we are probably going to have sex shops in our high streets. It’s OK though, because the windows may not display their wares. But behind the blank window pane will be a treasure trove of mature goodies.

Have we become a decadent society? You can either laugh or cry at what is happening.

It is only 48 years since I settled in Malta. It still is a great country, a really great country, but so many things have happened that have spoilt its unique, personal character. All we need now is to able to walk naked in the streets, and perhaps fornicate in public.

Then, when we depart, it would be better if we do not look back, or else we may be changed into pillars of salt.

Frank Salt is a real estate agency owner.

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