Biased? Certainly. Worrying? Possibly. Unpredictable? Unquestionably. Anything is possible and everything else is not when a partisan mindset is triggered.
Malta is not a landlocked country like most EU states but just a lonesome island surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea. This factor is most probably the reason why various Maltese people are satisfied with simple explanations to justify complicated issues. The big picture can’t and won’t be seen in its full extent, no matter how true it is, simply because the mind is set to see what it wants to see, a condition known as scotoma.
No matter how many times Joseph Muscat will rightly dispute the ill-timing and insensitiveness of the MPs’ honoraria increase given by the Prime Minister and his team or the highly possible irregularities in the BWSC contract or patiently tries to explain the pains the energy and fuel price hikes will inflict on the Maltese families, those who have their mind brainwashed about the holy mission of this government will simply ignore his calls of foul play and continue on their daily duties as usual.
Sadly, this occurs because the partisan mind is not set to see the truth but what is convenient. A convenient speech made by a convenient speaker to his followers has all the advantages over genuineness and actuality.
Those who are milking the cow dry will never admit the cow is dying due to their greed. Most probably, they will try to argue the cow is just passing through a bad physical phase and that from “the same milk they are sucking” the cow will drink and will eventually get better. This way of thinking will obviously cease to make sense if “they” – those presently milking the cow – are no longer doing it. This role reversal is a case study in the awesome power of the partisan mindset.
A case in point takes us back to the 1980s when a Labour government was lambasted left, right and centre because of its partisan stand over the state TV station (Xandir Malta). Back then, the Nationalists coined the term Dardir Malta to justify their argument of being discriminated against in terms of airtime and biased news. Today, in 2011, those in the seat of power are keeping mum and ready to close both eyes when faced with clear bias by the national TV station. Perhaps the same old term can now be applied again? In 1997, the same happened. When the government of Alfred Sant suggested a measure to revise the water and electricity tariffs, due to the pitiful state of finances left by a previous Administration, the Nationalist Party in opposition vehemently condemned the measure, going as far as branding Labour the anti-social party. Today, 13 years and hundreds of mismanagements later, the same PN, now in power, is doing worse. The water and electricity bills have become as scary as the bogeyman for Maltese families and fuel and gas prices are slowly reaching boiling point, rapidly degrading the living standard of hundreds of Maltese families.
On top of that we need to add the bill blunders of the state-of-the-art agency known as ARMS.
Today, funnily enough, many blue-eyed boys are silent or even try to justify such painful measures. Perhaps the term two weights, two measures is applicable now? I guess the partisan mind is full of mysteries.
Those with a clear interest of keeping their finger stuck deep inside the pie, even though, today, the pie is practically devoured, will try their utmost to ignore the smell of greed that is the main factor which leads their lives. That, my dear friends, is not called love for the country but love for the currency.
The partisan mind cannot accept that, presently, Malta has a democratic deficit due to the fact that all ID cards are expired and that this could lead to an abuse in the electoral system. For a partisan mind such things are tolerable simply because its owner is accommodated. The truth here is that, as things stand presently, the electoral system is not functioning on a level playing field. This situation would be considered a serious threat to democracy in a truly democratic society.
I know that, perhaps, reflections might not taste the same as a free meal for two but, at least, it will give you something to chew on throughout the day. This one comes from the Old Testament, Book of Exodus.
Reflection: During one of several meetings with Pharaoh Ramses, with the aim to persuade the god to free the Hebrews out of slavery, Moses, pointed his finger at the Hebrew slaves handling massive boulders like dogs under the sting of the whip and the scorching sun and asked: “What do you see, Ramses?” Ramses gazed at the dreadful scene for a moment and then replied with pride: “I see a greater Egypt than that left to me by my father!” “ That is not what I see”, replied Moses with sadness.
I wonder how Pharaoh Ramses could have possibly missed the suffering slaves.