National interest

The conflicts in North Africa have brought about the expected wave of migration towards Europe. Malta and Italy, due to their particular geographical position have been hit hard by the situation. And as expected, the popular reaction has not been very nice.
I can understand the frustration and fear that is felt by Maltese people especially in the current economic climate. However, this frustration is also bringing out a very dark side of the collective Maltese psyche.

We are a racist nation and there is no reason to beat about the bush. We all know this deep inside. That is why we always qualify what we say by saying 'I'm not racist but....'. Such talk is purely pathetic. We pride ourselves that we are the most generous nation in the world. A good part of the population prides itself that we are one of the most Christian nations in the world. And we are both of these things. But only if problems are at arms length away. Once problems are on our doorstep our attitude changes. We bring up all possible excuses not to help those who are in need.

The latest battle cry on this issue has been national interest. National interest before everything else. Allow me to disagree. In my book ANY human life is more valuable than national interest. I don't care if the island has 100,000 illegal migrants. I'd rather co-exist with them problems and all than knowing that people lost their lives because we could have helped them and we didn't.

That is why I can never ever agree with the idea of closing our ports to migrants. We can still make our voice heard in Europe and get help in shouldering the burden without becoming accomplices to such hideous acts. Resorting to short-sighted populist ploys will only make the situation worst for everyone involved