As I sat down to write this article dealing with the loss of my father, Guido, I happened to read the Talking Point by Marlene Housley entitled ‘The Pain Behind a Mother’s Smile’ (The Times, September 3).
The article is a passionate plea from a mother who in 2005 lost a 17-year-old daughter. Losing a father is tragic but losing a son or a daughter must be infinitely more so. I couldn’t help but wonder on the lessons to be learnt from such an untimely death. Life is a learning process. But then so is death.
My father had an insatiable thirst for knowledge. He was an eternal scholar. But he was also a dedicated lecturer and teacher who enjoyed sharing the knowledge he gained with others.
Like every other parent he taught his son about life and love; like the hundreds of students he lectured at University he taught me about the law.
Throughout his life he never missed an opportunity to teach me something new. Even in his death, he gave me one final and essential lecture: politics is and should always be a unifying force.
Politics is about choosing between different opinions, different positions and different options. Seen in this light, diversity becomes an essential element of democracy. The fact that we are able to have and to express an opinion makes us democratic, sets us free.
The politics of persuasion is not about eradicating this difference of opinion or about creating one point of view but rather about protecting the right of everyone to have an opinion.
This basic principle is equally applicable on an individual level and on a national level. A person, irrespective of his wealth, level of education or calling in life, has the right to have his voice heard and respected. So does a nation, irrespective of its size or wealth.
As politicians, it is our duty to protect this right. These past few days, sad as they were, taught me that people will respect and honour the politicians who respect this right. The people who came to pay their last respects to my father relayed this message on his behalf.
It is a message I will carry with me for the rest of my political life. As politicians, we have to uphold and fight for what we believe in. However, we should do so without disrespecting those who disagree with us.
Some may consider this as a given or as akin to stating the obvious. However, experience teaches us that there will be times when this principle is challenged. And this doesn’t only happen during politically-charged election campaigns.
There could be issues that, as a result of their sensitive nature, make us lose sight of this basic right. Be it hunting, illegal immigration or divorce, there might be issues over which we could lose sight of the individual’s right to hold a different opinion to ours. However and whatever the issue, no-one has a monopoly over opinions.
Although to a much lesser extent than it used to be, our society remains polarised. This is due to our inert tendency to feel passionately and strongly about what we believe in.
This national characteristic is present throughout our society and not just in the political arena. As politicians we have the duty and the power to combat this polarisation. Within this context, the sight of representatives of three band clubs, members of civil society and people from different walks of life and shades of opinion, marching together in a street in Ħamrun, also takes on a deeper meaning.
I wish on behalf of my mother, my sisters and my family to take this opportunity to thank all those who messaged or wrote to share with us this moment of grief. Your words provided my family and me with great solace.
I wish to also thank the nation, the government, political parties and the media for the stately manner in which they honoured my father’s memory.