Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1332685
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 JANUARY 2021 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Abortion always wrong IT looks like a job not even Super- man can do. To convince the pro- choice group that they are treading on dangerous fatal grounds is as impossible as seeing a butterfly rid- ing a bicycle or quarrying a granite rock with razor blades. It doesn't surprise me that the opinion of the overwhelming Maltese and doctors, the Church and even the Pope himself is rejected because she never even bothered to check that this pro-birth zealot is John and not Joseph. The important thing is to spread her message unashamedly. Pope Francis, at the beginning of his pontificate, had told members of the International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations that abortion will never be endorsed by the Catholic Church. Every child that isn't born but is unjustly condemned to be aborted, has the face of Jesus Christ, has the face of the Lord. If Catholics focus on abortion, there won't be a sea-change in policy that critics hope for. The pro-choice doctors are losing sight of their iden- tity and not living their vocation. It would not be amiss before con- cluding to quote Mother Theresa on this subject: "The nation that kills the babies in the womb has lost its soul. We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of war, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other?" In view of the above, I maintain compellingly that abortion is always wrong. John Azzopardi Zabbar Rambling etiquette THIS might be an uncommon implo- ration to readers of your newspaper, but I wonder how many of them are aware that it is actually good form to bid fellow ramblers 'good morning', 'good afternoon' or 'good evening' as you pass them by during a lengthy countryside walk. I cannot but make my observation public, but it seems that the Mal- tese are particularly shy or wary of strangers, especially those who might otherwise present themselves with a polite salutation. I experience this myself constant- ly on my countryside walks around many corners of the island, especial- ly popular stretches such as that at Għajn Tuffieħa: I would estimate that in four cases out of five, people seem taken aback when I say hello to them as I cross their path. Some seem to go out of their way to avoid eye contact. I don't think it is a symptom of our modern lives: it just does not seem to be the Maltese experience. Perhaps because long-distance walks are not entirely a Maltese custom? I know that this is rather par for the course in countries I have lived, such as Germany and the UK, and I would imagine across a great part of Europe. Indeed, it is a standard convention that one greets fellow walkers and farmers (I don't think joggers need acknowledging...). It is a reminder of the civility which we would extend to each other would we find ourselves in need of help or assistance. So, please fellow strangers, do not be strangers... Joseph Vella Mellieha