It was a refreshing change to read the thoughts of Labour MP Etienne Grech on multiculturalism. While very probably considered politically incorrect, particularly by those espousing radical Liberal ideals, his position is highly likely to represent the views of the silent majority. Multiculturalism, pluralism and cultural integration are closely related terms often deliberately bandied around to further muddy the waters of cultural hybridisation, which is the inevitable product of mass migration between continents.
It has been said pluralism is based on the recognition by a host nation of imported exceptional values and is often used to describe a state which supports pockets of other minority cultures among the host population. Multiculturalism is among other things pluralism on a larger scale and heralds a more significant impact on the host community.
It produces a sense of resigned indifference to inevitable cultural change foisted on a host country by sheer immigrant numbers, change which may well result in the imposition or acceptance of practices based on the lower denominator of the values in the mix.
The terminology is purely a matter of narrow academic interpretation but whatever we elect to label the process the result of heavy ethnic dilution always translates to change. Those who promote multiculturalism believe all cultures are equal. But all cultures are not equal for a variety of reasons.
Cultural equality like beauty is intangible and mainly exists in the eye of the biased beholder. The different cultures found in multiculturalism are rarely unified but either remain manifold or morph into cultural hybrids. The Maltese language is a classic example of that.
It may well be argued that a benign form of multiculturalism was already alive and well in Malta long before the massive influx of refugees from northern and sub-Saharan Africa and the real core issue which is being carefully avoided for fear of accusations of racism and xenophobia is the added dimension of thousands of refugees from Africa to our relatively small catchment but densely populated and culturally very different community.
This is an important issue and should not be regarded as taboo purely on the grounds that politically correct fashionistas may attempt to strangle sensible discussion with unwarranted accusations of racism.
New arrivals in Malta should be encouraged to adapt and embrace the culture of a nation offering them new hope and a myriad of advantages. Without that commitment, the host culture will become heavily diluted and will inevitably evolve into something different.
So the more debatable issue is not whether we want multiculturalism or not. Malta already had that by virtue of the significant presence of British and other Europeans who have settled in Malta. The point is with approximately 18,000 new African arrivals comprising an eclectic collection of genuine refugees needing help, illegal opportunistic economic migrants profiting from a confused and policy-bereft Europe, no doubt also criminals and retired jihadists on the run.
How and to what extent will such a severe adulteration of our cultural fabric affect our way of life, religion, laws etc?
It would be naïve to consider a multicultural society with no intermarriage, no dilution of faith, national loyalties and other personal values
An even more vexing question is how to deal with it. With some considerable difficulty is probably the answer. Maltese society is generally of a conservative nature and the status quo is often preferred to change particularly if that change has alien characteristics about it.
New arrivals bring in values and practices which may be relatively good or bad but unarguably different as can be witnessed in mainland Europe.
Most of these so-called refugees come with Sharia or Islamic law, so how do we cope with that? Let’s just reflect on some of the basic concepts of Muslim religious law or Sharia law.
Under Sharia law there are no limitations on men’s rights to marriage or divorce. Polygamous marriages, arranged marriages are very common. A man can marry and consummate his marriage with a child of nine years of age. Is this what we want to see in Malta to assuage the whims of those mindlessly singing the mantra of multiculturalism?
The UK refuses to recognise such marriages but interestingly enough in Australia, where multiculturalism was heavily promoted by previous governments anxiously keen to appease Green and other looney fringe independents in order to maintain control of the Australian Senate, there are emerging reports that Sharia law is now widely practised as a shadow legal system endorsing polygamous marriages and arranged marriages to unwilling and underage child brides all outlawed under the Marriage Act.
David Cameron’s equalities and integration champion Louise Casey reportedly found that some regional public bodies in the UK are more interested in wiping out evidence of crimes by minority ethnic groups than stopping forced marriages particularly to children as young as eight years of age.
She goes on: “In Muslim communities hand-wringing liberals obsessed with political correctness and multiculturalism are failing crime victims like young girls, ignoring these serious problems in favourof multiculturalism.”
The culture of Muslim refugees from Africa very often calls for the abominable practice of female genital mutilation, something our culture rightly despises and rejects. We wouldn’t wish to inflict that practice on Maltese-born girls irrespective of the ethnicity or cultural beliefs of their parents, so how are we to deal with that.
A culture based on radicalised Islam lacks the respect women are entitled to and treats women as mere chattels. Those sentiments should have no place in our society. Naturally there are also ponderable differences which might challenge us to reflect on.
Islam has no Church hierarchy, no priests no ministers, vicars or bishops. Muslims pray directly to their God without the need of institutional intermediaries. Some might form the view that our society may consider and learn something from that. It would be naïve to consider a multicultural society with no intermarriage, no dilution of faith, national loyalties and other personal values.
While there are clear distinctions between pluralism, which is simply a state of coexistence between different cultural minorities, and multiculturalism, which invariably leads to significant change there is also much common ground between decent and reasonable people of all races and we can only hope that wise and balanced lawmaking and enforcement will in the fullness of time produce an enriched and better lifestyle for all.
Anthony Trevisan is a businessman passionate about environmental issues particularly as they affect Malta.