Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1237083
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 APRIL 2020 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications THE Maltese Association for the Coun- selling Profession (MACP) is mindful of the harsh realities many people are ex- posed to, especially in such difficult and surreal times. For many, normality has been eclipsed by a sense of insecurity and anxiety, be it in relation to our financial stability, our health or even our ability to retain our jobs. Despite this, our health profes- sionals transmit a sense of trust that this situation will eventually be over while all measures are being taken towards the containment of this pandemic. Unfortunately, in 2020 not everyone is able to enjoy this form of protection in their own country. The onset of COV- ID-19 triggered our survival instincts. This was mostly exhibited in the pan- ic-buying of most essential items. While reminding ourselves that these essential items are still considered a lux- ury in many corners of the world, now more than ever, we are in a position to understand how the protection of free- dom of life and freedom of movement is a basic, yet fundamental right. One of the articles within the Frame- work Convention for The Protection of National Minorities of The Council of Europe that Malta signed in 1998 states that: "The Parties shall encourage a spirit of tolerance and intercultural dialogue and take effective measures to promote mutual respect and understanding and co-operation among all persons living on their territory, irrespective of those persons' ethnic, cultural, linguistic or re- ligious identity, in particular in the fields of education, culture and the media." These principles are embedded in the moral fabric of the counselling profes- sion. Counselling in Malta is spread amongst a vast number of cultural reali- ties. Predominantly, the counsellor's aim is to be a social advocate for the under- privileged, while working tirelessly to- wards the upkeep of basic human rights. Our country holds institutions whose aim is to promote the protection of minorities. MACP firmly believes that service users will only feel secure and protected when these institutions' lead- ership demonstrate unwavering values of social advocacy and social altruism while promoting a truly multicultural identity. In this forum, there is no space for dialogue, nor actions or decisions, that could lead to further marginalisa- tion. We urge authorities to be mindful that the value of life is fundamental, irrespective of race or skin colour. Let us not move to the mindset of knowing the price of everything but the value of nothing. Etienne Gatt, MACP Shield of faith IF someone thinks they can wrap everything up in a little package and put a fancy theological bow on this perennial conundrum, they are greatly mistaken: the purpose of suffering in history has been that it leads to repentance. Only after suffering and disaster did Old Tes- tament Israel and individual people turn back to God. We live in a broken world but Jesus was honest enough to tell us we'd have trials and tribulations. We can expect calamities and epidemics any moment. The population of the world will never see peace this side of heaven. When a tornado rips through a whole country or a pandemic strikes the whole world this is more than a climatic or biological change. The universe is passing through the final hours before delivery because nature is a pregnant creation. Painful contractions are in the forecast. "You will hear of wars and rumours of war but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, pesti- lence, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains." (Matt 24:6-8) But don't let them disturb you. Keep your head and don't panic. With such spiritual bail-outs, worldwide persecu- tion, pandemics and ecological turmoil, fortitude and faith can be your shield. Maybe nobody will ever know why this time evil is of unprecedented propor- tions. But there is a reason and it's with- in the sovereignty of God. Even good can come out of evil. John Azzopardi Zabbar Protection of minorities