Recently Pope Benedict, speaking on the tenth anniversary of 9/11, called for the rejection of violence and for a “eucharistic spirituality”. He said we should reject violence and indifference towards others. Pope Benedict himself prayed at Ground Zero during his 2008 visit to New York and asked God to “bring down His peace to our violent world”.

But what are we doing in Malta? The cause of peace is certainly not being helped when certain local TV dramas are shown at prime time. They are full of violence, marital infidelity, indifference, hatred and vindictiveness towards others.

These programmes are bound to condition people’s minds and attitudes in society. Why not show serious drama, comedy or wholesome entertainment for a change?

We may see some of the effects of the glorification and justification of violence, for example, in the aggressive way young drivers react to someone blocking their way or who are too slow to act, or in the violent way some teenagers behave in Paceville and other places of entertainment.

Television is still a very popular medium, so if the fare it offers consists mostly of gang violence, aggression, murders and assault – coupled with the violence and wars we see on the news bulletin every day – this can only encourage psychological tension, pessimism and negative emotions that harm our minds.

I therefore feel TV programmes glorifying violence should either be banned entirely or shown very late.