Monday, 4th August 2008
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
In my weekly column, I made passing reference to the ludicrous expectations of various sectors of society, amongst which those of the crypto racists. This inspired a gentleman by the name of Peter Mifsud to send me quite a thoughtful email, whose permission I have to reproduce the salient bits of it. I’ve edited it only for reasons of space.
Mr Mifsud wrote “Lowellian desires can rot along with his racist bunch of...... (probably unprintable anyway), although it worries me how many people I meet who privately agree with what this man says. It’s disconcerting to think that racism and xenophobia are rising again.
No thrones on the seashore here, however your question [about what people expect] requires an answer, and one which we *have to* come up with. Am I the only one who feels there is a clock on this? How many more immigrants can we handle? 1000 more 5,000 more, 10,000 more? Then what? My point is that somewhere some kind of line will be drawn and I'd rather it were drawn by our Minister within some EU framework.
Presently, once some poor souls have landed on our shores we incarcerate them for 18 months after which they are moved to an open centre presumably with nothing to do but foment idleness and discontent. Idle hands are the devils tool and an idle mind is the devils workshop, so we should occupy both. The hands require work and our nation needs cleaning and rebuilding (as in rubble walls in fields, general public waste collection and cleaning, separation of waste for recycling, planting of trees etc.)
Can we not employ these idle people for these tasks? It seems a fair trade that if you come here illegally, we will clothe you, feed you, house you, keep you healthy and possibly even educate you (basic education) but the least you can do is not be a dead weight, but contribute and just to be clear here, I'm talking about mandatory work.”
Interjecting my own views here, while the idea isn’t probably one that will find favour with the comfy people sitting in their comfy offices pontificating on how badly Malta treats immigrants, while their own, more Northern countries, sit on their own hands, I have to say that – handled sensitively – it’s not necessarily a bad one.
Mr Mifsud continues: “If you're healthy and idle then you must work - you need to work. After all we locals all work and a good portion of our taxes is going to maintain these people.
I think we should make it abundantly clear to ALL illegal immigrants that they can never have a permanent home here and eventually they and their families must go back to their country and be part of the rebuilding process that restores their home.
I also think this would start getting the message filtering through (back to the relatives of these people) that Malta is definitely not the place to come to. I also think that if enough of these immigrants got this message, many less would be willing to make the water crossing which in turn would turn up the heat on the African coast as illegal immigrants would be unwilling to leave.
He then concludes “I know that my tuppence worth may be old hash and if so my apologies for wasting your time reading this but on the other hand maybe my ideas have some merit or start the ball rolling. I honestly believe that we must do our Christian duty towards anybody who comes to our shores and I personally harbour no ill feelings towards these people and cannot but wonder how bad a situation I would have to be in, to make me leave everything behind, grab my family and cast myself onto the water and hopefully the beneficence of others. However I think part of this duty is to help these people, and locking them up in a pseudo prison and then transferring them to a slum is not right nor is it help.”
He leaves the best bit to the very end: “Thanks for your regular column. I do so enjoy it :)”.
I don’t necessarily agree with all that, but there is a decent mix of robustness and compassion. Compare and contrast that with the views of a columnist in Saviour Balzan’s rant-rag, who was, admittedly writing in the form of a letter, so presumably not as a columnist.
Without a single word of disapprobation or comment, unlike when some contribution fails to comply with the strict standards, though hardly cast-iron consistent ones, imposed on a week-by-week (not to say page-by-page) basis in this fearless publication (excuse me while I fall about laughing)the gentleman concerned, whose blushes I will spare by not naming him, dedicated two full columns to “Immigration – Malta’s Biggest Problem”. It is unclear whether the following words of wisdom were written while the author was taking his ease in Gstaad or in his garden.
He starts out by saying that he “is not a racist”, which is usually quite a good indicator to the contrary. I’m not going to copy out whole chunks of the turgid prose that constitutes this contribution to the sum of human knowledge, but I’ll give you a few choice bits.
This analytical genius tells us, for instance that “Maltese families are frightened to venture out of their homes at night”, which is twaddle of the first water. Continuing in the same vein, we’re told that the “upkeep of this people is costing our Government millions of Euros”, though we’re not told whether this is per month, per year, per decade or per what. Millions sounds good, though, so why let accuracy get in the way of a good punch-line, is clearly this concerned tax-payer’s point of view.
In a sentence loaded with racist sentiment and barely concealed, and cheap, sarcasm, our hero continues: “At the same time, our North African neighbours are taking us to task for accidentally letting some immigrants drown.”
After a few more lines of ill-informed raving, amongst which is the astounding revelation that our MEPs are more interested in repatriating Russian and Ukrainian tourists (don’t ask me, I don’t know what he’s talking about either) the writer states, apparently seriously, that the last thing he “personally wants is to see our churches transformed into mosques as is happening in the U.K.”, adding a non sequitur of astounding proportions that “apparently some 800,000 Britons left England this year”. One has to assume that this because they couldn’t find a church that hadn’t been turned into a mosque.
In this exemplary Christian’s (he was the one who brought religion into it, not me) “humble opinion” rescuing immigrants “is not an option”. The options in this regard, apparently, are for the armed forces to meet these people on the high seas, give them food and water, and turn them back towards Libya (after having towed them to its territorial waters) or point them towards Sicily. At first glance, this appears not to be a completely impossible course of action to contemplate, but you, dear reader, are intelligent enough to spot the inherent stupidities.
In any case, this expert in humanitarian dealings goes on to write, and here I quote his final paragraphs in full: “Finally, our Government could announce that our boats will no longer race to rescue these immigrants. Then our armed forces will cut all communications and stay in port and let other nations look after this problem. After all most of these immigrants are not political refugees. They come to Malta uninvited with mobiles in their hands in order to seek a better life. Perhaps we should copy the Australians who absolutely do not allow any immigrants even to land on their shores. Are we too polite to do just that? We are being kinder to these people than to our countrymen, who are living below the poverty line and who need help”.
Further comment from me would be superfluous. I’ve no doubt that in the comments section, there will be a depressing proportion of what can only be described as racist raving, because that is the nature of the beast, but hey, the idea is to provoke debate.
RSS
Comments
Thanks for your input. When I say "the EU", of course I mean all its member states. What I mean when saying the EU is not doing enough is that EU members who are not as much effected as us are clearly not willing to agree on reasonable burden-sharing.
So, of course, I understand that the EU's options are limited.
Catania and Spiteri seem to think, however, that I was trying to be funny or something equally inappropriate. Their failure to understand me is their problem, not mine.
adriana.
ps thanks for the solidarity and your reply because it does really help me and the kids keep going and we can continue supporting karl
Whilst understanding your frustration at what may be percieved to be lack of action by the EU one must understand that the EU's possible courses of action on this issue are limited.
First of all, the EU does not have the power to decide on its own on matters pertaining to immigration. For the EU to take action on these matters there has to be agreement between all the member states. Take Malta's suggestion on burden sharing. This proposal is being pushed by the European Commission, but for matters of national interest several member states are against it. The EU cannot do anything until there is a concensus. This is how the EU works.
Secondly the EU has been doing a lot. It has been financing our patrols, and helping, technically and financially, in dealing with the immigrants once they land. More has to be done but first one must find a concensus between the countries themselves. Certainly more can always be done and immigration as for the past years been one of the priorities of the EU.
I SAY TWO THINGS . I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SYMPATHY AND INDEED MANY ARE PASSING THROUGH DIFFICULT MOMENTS AND IT IS THANKS TO THE EXPERTISE AND DEDICATION OF THE STAFF THAT LIVES ARE SAVED EVERY DAY IN THE ITU. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS MY APRECIATION FOR THE LOVING CARE AND DEDICATION OF THE STAFF IN THE ITU
EVERY DAY THAT HAS PASSED HAS BEEN A MIRACLE.
THE SECOND THING I WISH TO SAY IS THAT I.M. BECK MISSES A POINT IN THAT RESPECT IS EARNED. I HAVE MET HOSPITAL STAFF WHO KNEW KARL AS A CHILD, AS A STUDENT AND MOSTLY AS A DOCTOR , A FAMILY MAN, A GENTLEMAN AND ALSO AS A POLITICIAN .
THE LOVE, RESPECT ANS SINCERE OUTPOURING OF SOLIDARITY IS A REFLECTION OF ALL THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO SOCIETY .
I THANK THOSE SUPPORTING AND PRAYING FOR KARL BECAUSE YES YOUR PRAYERS ARE BEING HEARD
They have managed to turn decent local people into scared human beings. Now you can throw all your toys out of your pram, shout, nag, kick and scream but immigration is here to stay. What we should be talking about is how to tacke this issue. The first wave or generation of immigrants are always very submissive but their children or second wave won't be and we better get our act together. There is no discussion about training and education, housing, pensions etc. The economic and also social side of immigration is being swept under the carpet. With proper planning one could turn this issue into an opportunity.
There is one thing in common here, everybody wants a better Malta, but the total lack of information, the traditional Malta and Maltese bashing and a historical lack of national confidence is helping to create such a bitter enviroment.
1. You would have served your purposes better if you had described what these "national values" are. In the absence of your definition of what these "national values" are, I cannot say whether I agree or not that Malta still has these "national values". Hence my quotation marks and my "whatever they may be". Define and then we can debate. And please note that "heritage", "culture" and "identity" are just other words for "national values", and not a definition. Regarding sovereignty, it has nothing to do with "national values". Consult a thesaurus.
2. Have I called you a racist?
The term 'racist' loosely bandied about lately does not make me feel bad. In fact I can take it as a 'compliment' coming from people like you. You see ABC, I need not 'betray the true nature of a writer. In the current context, we are getting a good idea of the number of racists that pollute our society'. So much for flaunting your 'Christian purity' for others to behold.
If someone can have the crass temerity to say '"national values" (whatever they may be)' then surely he has no rightful place in a society built by proud generations who safeguarded their heritage, culture, identity and above all sovereignty. If you have problems identifying what makes a country a nation, then you are excused for having problems understanding this phenomenon. You are, quite respectfully said, an empty vessel making undecipherable noises.
I wonder how long it will take ABC to post a blog in which the MLP are (justly) poked fun at for doing that which they should not have done. Come on Bocc, for once we all want you to do what comes natural to you - rip into the MLP for us please, they deserve it.
You have obviously not understood the point I was making. Let me put it in simpler terms:
To enter Malta without a valid passport, you have two options - either claim you are seeking asylum in Malta, or else claim that the invalid passport was due to a mistake.
In the first case, you are taken to a detention centre with the rest of the immigrants.
In the second case, the authorities would have to either check about it (which would have been the sensible thing to do in your family's case) or else send your cousin back (which they did).
Finally, I want to rest your mind that I am angry at these kinds of people:
1. Human traffickers with no conscience who make money out of others' misery, leaving them to risk their lives in the process.
2. The EU, which is turning a blind eye to Malta (and Africa)'s problems. This is not to say I'm anti-EU, but on this issue I would expect it to face its responsibilities.
3. People who vent their anger at desperate people who only wish to live.
My cousin doesn't need to seek asylum, Malta is his country.
All I'm saying is, you can refuse entry to an 8 year old Maltese , because his passport has no photo, but if you seek asylum you can come in with no papers.
We're talking about entry to the islands here, so a comparison is suitable.
All I'm saying is No wonder so many illegals come to our island, its so easy.
We should make it easy for tourists, and hard for iIlegals thats my point.
Like I said, we have a Trend of Rewarding Bad behavior in this country,
which does not make any sense.
All you do-gooders should be angry at the Human Traffickers who dump the illegals on tuna pens or leave them in unstable boats and take all their money and belongings.
Those are the Real Racists Ken.
I think you meant "typical of" not "typical to" Mr Cassar. In any case, feel free to reply to my comments.
Yes, Norman Lowell too and I shy not state that I’ll be the first to endorse him. Being no opportunist I do believe in ‘tackling the worst first’ – at present Illegal Immigration from Africa.
As we get moving, I fritter no time answering comments typical to Mr Cassar’s.
Time will prove us right...
With bad weather as our only relief from a constant flow of immigrants, I congratulate those who find the courage to come out.
The good news is that in front of such an ever-increasing split of ideas, the sensible politician will start to evaluate and act in favour of the major creed irrelevant of his personal feelings and thoughts. In a confident tone I say the government cannot remain impartial and is forced to take a marginal stance by June 2009. That would not only be indicative but conducive too.
Enlightened by foreign happenings I have no iota of doubt that under such a situation, a vast number of Maltese are as aware of the omen as the politician is of majority-will. This is the politician’s ‘pain in mnemonic a’ which compels him to act.
Neutrality is not bestowing rewards any longer: If Minister Tonio Borg was unaware of this he surely learned last Sunday after a scathing attack by that usual shrew!
...PART THREE
I've read all with interest: To start with, I wasn't expecting a different conclusion from Mr Borg Cardona. Nevertheless he merits my appreciation for publishing this.
I agree with Mr Stephen Saliba in that I view this is a silent invasion that will render our lives (worse for our progeny) miserable. It is useless discussing why for that can be debated ad eternum: but as time goes by I notice that less people are keeping a neutral on such a topic. Some are worried about the situation while others think that illegal immigrants should be pitied and integrated in our society regardless of what percentile of it disfavours such a bid.
A responsible government should ponder on this circumstance and define a critical mass. The latter would be the most we can budget for in feeding, taking care of, housing...them. The mass influx of immigrants however doesn’t seem to worry the government that is composed of politicians who strive to remain popular with the largest number of voters of course. The administration is averse and endeavours in promoting illegal immigration as a non-political issue, as a problem we should understand and unwillingly accept.
...PART TWO
7. Regarding losing our identity, remember also that refugees cannot vote.
8. What is the church's opinion? I can only guess that its opinion is similar to mine...that we should do what we are doing (studying immigrant's cases to give asylum to those who deserve it, while putting pressure on the EU to help.
9. The Catholic Church does not actually discourage non-christian marriages. It only demands that inter-religious marriages are preceded by adequate preparation. The Maltese curia even organizes such courses.
10. The Church remains silent about multiculturalism only because it is the view Jesus Christ actually held. Of course, this does not mean that anything goes. People from different cultures are still bound by the laws of their host-country.
11. What happened in Yugoslavia last decade was not the result of the inability of different cultures to co-exsist. It was a racist attempt at genocide.
So no, Stephen, I am not at all pleased with what I see, for two reasons. I see the misery of people risking their life to escape from persecution, and I see the EU turning a blind eye and not helping us.
And no, I will stay here, thank you very much.
1. Adrian Pace says that people are not born racist but become racist. Is he in some way justifying racism. There is no excuse for racism (his word, not mine).
2. Adrian Pace asks why people who defend "national values" (whatever they may be) are labelled racist. They are not. It is people who judge other people because of race (or religion) who are.
3. People who defend genuine asylum seekers and refugees are not so stupid that we cannot see a problem coming. However, sending all immigrants back is neither humane nor legally possible.
4. People who defend genuine asylum seekers know that the EU should do more to help. However, anger at immigrants (including genuine refugees etc) is misplaced anger. We should be angry at the EU on this issue.
5. Freedom of speech means speaking your mind as long as what you say is not illegal. However freedom of speech includes calling someone racist if he speaks in a racist way.
6. What identity is under attack exactly? Do you fear being converted to another religion or culture?
To be continued...
Our inability to defend ourselves from the onslaught of this silent invasion. People are not born racist, they become racist when they witness their country being sacrificed to weak legislation, people become racist when frustration mounts.
It is a mixture of feelings, not just racism. People question the competency of our MEP's in Brussles and why we are being punished for being members of the EU. The question is are we able to defend our shores and why are writers who defend our national values being labelled as racist and facist?
What happend to freedom of speech? Or is freedom of speech only confined to minority rights such as homosexuals and transvestites? Are we becoming more focused on divorce and abortion issues while our identity is under attack?
What is the church's opinion in all this? The Catholic church discourages non-Christian marriages for valid reasons but remains silent over forced multi-culturalism and our inability to repress.
There is a difference between racism and Nationalism. What happened in Yugoslavia last decade was the result of the inability of different cultures to co-exsist.
Let us not reach those levels before we react!
When Integration (my desired proposal for Malta ) failed, some half a century back, my mind turned to a fiercely independent Malta that could put its finger(s) up to the world and trade upon its unique virtues. That proved illusory as well and so we have the Malta of today.
I reiterate my view that anyone should be allowed to go anywhere providing that they provided for themselves. However I have to make an exception of Malta because of special considerations that are not entirely the fault of the Maltese.
The social and political state of Malta is pretty ropey and the recent developments of the MLP bode ill for the future (being substantially the mixture as before) and so PN can tootle along at its own speed.
Obviously Malta is in desperate need of a clean-up and here we have a captive work force in the form of the immigrants and irrespective of what image may be projected they might as well be set to work and if they refuse to work be melted down for axle grease.
If the EU objects then let the EU sort it out.
Peter
Thankfully your cousin is not an asylum seeker. With a little attention from his parents' part, he should have no problems next time. On the otherhand, since you are comparing, if he claimed a refugee status, your cousin would have been allowed to join the refugees in the detention camps. But I'm sure your family would not have liked that.
My German Maltese cousin of 8 years old, was refused entry into Malta 2 years ago, because his passport did not have a photo.
My Aunt was forced to leave him behind and he had to come to Malta on his own (of course with a photo passport) a week later. Which meant a week of my Aunt's holiday in her home country was ruined, it was by sheer luck that my uncle was coming 2 weeks later to Malta due to his work leave.
Yet some random African who comes without any papers, is eligible to enter Malta, stay in the naughty bin for 18 months, then free to roam around aimlessly in this country, till some Maltese Coyote smuggles him into Italy. (no future).
So for my Maltese 8 year old cousin to come with a passport, but no Photo is refused entry, but an African without a passport is let in.
Sigh, lets all reward bad behavior, it won't affect us right NOW.
I quote: "The hands require work and our nation needs cleaning and rebuilding (as in rubble walls in fields, general public waste collection and cleaning, separation of waste for recycling, planting of trees etc." We know how most Maltese look upon these jobs...
But at least something that is feasible has been suggested. Full marks for that.
Marsa and Valletta (behind the Kiosks) - been there, unharmed. On the otherhand, some elite Maltese citizen did throw an object at my car as thank you for risking my life to avoid running him over with my car after him crossing the busy street without even looking. Somehow I fear these kind of people more than any black immigrant.
Regarding statistics, I ask you, because it is you who says that immigrants are to be feared. Without statistics, your fear is due to prejudice, therefore racist.
As for sending everyone back, no, I did not miss that one. However, since you gave their being muslims as a reason for sending them to muslim countries, I simply commented on the nonsense of that claim.
Regarding paying for others' expenses, I pay for huge subsidies for the meat you eat (and I don't), which, if it were not for these subsidies, meat would probably not be affordable to you. How about cutting that subsidy as well?
Regarding religion, it is you who brought it in the argument. However, where it does not suit you, you say that getting religion into the equation is silly. So why mention muslims?
His writing (I have read the whole letter not just excerpts out of context) sure reflects what the vast majority of the Maltese feel about the impending obliteration of their home and culture. If people like ABC choose to ridicule him it is because they are now bereft of any options or solutions and have resigned themselves to be swallowed by this strategic invasion which knows no end. I wonder what ABC made out of MP Robert Arrigo's similar veined letter on The Malta Independent a few days ago? If he is ignorant to this I would willingly update him with the contents!
I agree with P. Muscat when he said 'somewhere some kind of line will be drawn and I'd rather it were drawn by our (Prime) Minister within some EU framework', that however is just pie in the sky as everyone is fully aware now. So where does that leave us? On our own and to our own devices that's where. Did Berlusconi commit sacrilege in passing the anti-immigrant laws? Do Australia and New Zealand attract the wrath of God with their solid NO to illegal entrants? Do we have to be a 120 sq miles of refuge for the endless boatloads of economic migrants and a beacon of Christian values? No ABC. The buck has to stop somewhere. If your beloved PM chooses to play ostrich tactics with this very volatile situation, very soon he will be told what to do - by his people not the EU.
As regards Chev. Mizzi's letter, stop ridiculing anyone who has some loyalty to his country. He is perfecty correct in all he said!
ps. people don't just say that these people are taking over Malta. Can you at least suggest something to solve this problem
We are being abused so as to provide a convenient staging post for this abhorrent traffic while bigger nations come and pick the more economically viable refugees leaving us with the problem of providing free meals and accomodation for the rest. Utilising these people in some sort of a pioneer corps to make some contribution towards their upkeep would be reasonable, just and more beneficial to the illegal immigrants themselves than a life of enforced idleness.
Of course, the question is, what is the governments view on the desirable level of immigration?
In other words, what is the amount of immigrants that this country can truly sustain without reaching the critical mode?
Only last week the island of Lampadusa declared a state of emergency saying that they have now reached critical level; of course this is all very well for Lampadusa, as they can send any excess refugees to the Italian mainland.
But what happens when this country reaches its critical level? Where do we send those who will be deemed as excess?
The fact is that none of our European neighbours wants to know about our plight, as they already have their own immigration problems.
I personally feel that the government must be more forceful in their demands with the EU, and state quite categorically that we can accommodate x number of refugees, but more than that must be an EU problem.
As for the immigrants that are already here, they could be seconded to the various councils and help in cleaning up this country, that's the very least I would expect.
Is it really them who have created these areas, or have we simply dumped them there? And can you provide statistics (comparable to Maltese violence) to show that these areas are truly no-go?
Quote: "People are feeling threatened and worried with their ever increasing numbers".
Worried I can accept, due to our country's size and limitations. But threatened? Again, statistics would be welcome.
Quote: "Most of these illigeal immigrants are Muslims. So why not ask the likes of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others of similar religion (and cash rich!) to take on these persons?"
Why stop there. Should we expel all Maltese non-Christians as well?
Quote: "Make it clear that ALL illegal aliens will be repatriated... without fail... present ones included!"
Very Christian, apart from being alarmist and not legally or morally possible.
Quote: "but i cannot help but feel that he was reflecting the feelings of the vast majority".
If true, now that would be worrying!
The two legs as I see them are the following:
1. Maltese society is corrupt at many levels, especially at the phylosophical level. Incompetence results as persons grab power well above their level of competence.
2. Incompetence leads to destruction of a wider culture-base. Small-power-people corrupt their immediate environment to permit bigger interests corrupt absolutely our very core. This process makes out of Malta a dump when, with decent management/vision, Malta can be a paradise.
A strategic Lowellian weakness is, in my view, presenting immigration (and colour of skin), as representative of the impact that widespread incompetence/corruption (especially of the spiritual type) has on society.
Another weakness, always in my view, is the lack of a working alternative that can bring about a reform that will have the support of the majority.
The two views expressed in the piece similarly lack nuts and bolts that may bring together a functioning alternative.
Our structures, while desperately inefficient and philosophically lacking, somehow manage to lick a system together. Cascading this eppur-si-muove-system onto paradise-material is another matter altogether.