Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1319911
13 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 16 DECEMBER 2020 OPINION Ivan Bartolo is a Member of Parliament for the Nationalist Party THE Nationalist Party has always based its decisions on the Christian Democrat faith and has always drawn its policy on Christian principles. It has never been ashamed to defend certain values and it must continue doing so. For others, ma- terial wealth and economy are everything. For the Nationalist Party, man is the cen- tre of everything. Undoubtedly Malta, like the rest of the world, has undergone great chang- es. Anyone who embraces certain prin- ciples, will no doubt feel as if they are always struggling against the current. Nowadays, especially since social me- dia influence is always on the increase, one can almost feel as if he is a loser, as if he does not belong on this planet an- ymore. It is true that at times all hope fades away, yet we need the courage and will to sacrifice to stand up and unite to re- build together and thus maintain our identity. This can only happen with the Nationalist Party in Government if we continue to embrace the values and principles that have shaped us. Man, because he is the centre of everything, has rights that no one can take away. Despite the shortcomings, man re- mains human and must always be re- spected in every aspect. Above all and above everyone, the state is there to help and not to conquer or destroy man. With regards to certain values, we have to be the ones to send a message to others, but if any of us (because we are human beings) do not stay in line with our principles, we will be like that rotten apple in a fruit basket, which spoils the rest of the fruit. We cannot deviate from values in the name of progress, in the name of equali- ty, in the name of values that entice you to believe that they are an expression of modern and new insights. Ultimately certain values that the Government is presenting to us will be depriving man of his dignity. Be careful, because the Government with its powerful means, is leading us take as truth that which is, in fact, not true. The Nationalist Party's values have al- ways been at the core of its behaviour. And the PN today must be serious and responsible in caring for and safeguard- ing these values, presenting them to oth- ers in an attractive way in today's world. We believe that good triumphs over evil. It depends on us, on the attitude we take. Our predecessors fought certain battles, to fight for the principles we em- brace today. Those victories in favour of values and principles were great victories. Because these victories have assured us of true freedom, the true dignity that is the ba- sis of true civilisation. But nowadays some have opted for the easy way out and have given in to pres- sure even before they started fighting. We are pioneers and this should moti- vate us to better understand the needs of others, as if they were our own. This is what will make the PN victori- ous again, as people will see how differ- ent we are from others. But as a politician I get hurt when I hear words like "you are only interested in filling your pockets" or "we are for- gotten". We are in politics, so we must assume responsibility for our actions. And because we embrace Christian Democrat principles, we should preach and practise solidarity. This will attract to the party the best minds and hearts, even among those who currently 'hate' us. We should keep in mind that we en- tered this vocation with no manual, but we involved ourselves to give and not to receive. If we are not capable of rising to this challenge, it is better to stay on the sidelines. We should keep in mind that we repre- sent the Nationalist Party and that car- ries with it great human principles. Every step the party takes, it will be af- fecting the lives of those who came be- fore us, but also of those who are not yet born. Our party cannot be a haven for those who wish to fill their pockets and be- come rich, but must be a refuge for all those who want to build a better Malta. Without principles, we can never win. Issues such as euthanasia and abortion are not on our agenda. In this aspect we should never imitate others. We cannot go to Europe and tell them that the Mal- tese are in favour of abortion. We can never betray our very nature, our values, our principles. We should definitely not forget, hide or distort our values, for the sake of looking sexy, because that will deal a fatal blow to those same values, and ultimately to our party itself. Looking sexy is not reason enough to make us denounce our values Ivan Bartolo