Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516667
10 OPINION 29.2.2024 Reflecting on Carroll's tale about the Mad Hatter party George Mangion George Mangion is a senior partner at PKF, an audit and consultancy firm, and has over 25 years' experience in accounting, taxation, financial and consultancy services. His efforts have made PKF instrumental in establishing many companies in Malta and established PKF as a leading professional financial service provider on the Island T he Mad Hatter and March Hare are fictional characters in Lewis Carroll's 1865 book "Alice Ad- ventures in Wonderland" and its 1871 sequel "Through the Looking-Glass".. The nonsensical antics of the charac- ters in the Mad Hatter's tea party story serve as a vehicle for the author to ex- plore deeper philosophical and existen- tial themes in Victorian times. Here are some interpretations of the deeper meanings behind their nonsensical behaviour and how can it relate to the present-day scenario. The absurdity of the tea party can be interpreted as a reflection of the ex- istential confusion experienced by Malta's citizens when grappling with questions of climate change, power cuts, protection of environment and the true identity as population of TNC's grows. Let us not forget "The Dormouse", a perpetually asleep or groggy crea- ture. He could represent the plight of disenfranchised or displaced popu- lations caught in the crossfire of the aforementioned deadly conflicts. Words of consolation from the West cannot heal the sufferings of dis- placed populations, the latter bear the brunt of violence, displacement, and humanitarian crises resulting from the actions of aggressive powers and militant groups. Of late, locals are being made con- scious of a barrage of financial scan- dals, not to forget the assassination of a blogger who was demonized by the State propaganda and now waits (af- ter six years) for true closure by her family. The mastermind alleged to be behind the ordering of her assassina- tion is still in custody. Citizens are now becoming immune to abuses in State procurement, in- cluding unauthorized public expend- iture (the multiple issue of direct orders and loyalists at the helm with six figure salaries). This makes us conscious of our plight when we wit- ness the growing number of low-wage families who strive to survive the rush to remain solvent till the end of the month's cycle. The imaginative story written by Carroll depicts Victorian age Britain in its convoluted absurdity and in do- ing so, reminds us of a negligent at- titude of our resolve to fight climate change, maintain ecological balances, hail sustainability, halt the rise of con- gested air caused by chaotic "bumper to bumper" traffic. It is a reality check which shows the futility of trying to impose order and meaning onto an island which is at- tracting three million plus (majority of low-value tourists) these mostly rent Airbnb). The nonsensical antics underscore the absurdity of our hu- man endeavours and the ultimately futile quest for rational thinking out- side partisan politics. Housing is now too expensive for low-wage workers and hospitals are brimming with patients, who for lack of space, wait long hours in emergen- cy halls on temporary stretchers. Ob- servers explore the human quest for meaning and purpose in a seemingly meaningless world with a full-scale war in Ukraine and expanding hostili- ties in the Middle East. This challeng- es our sanity, with endless repetition and lack of progress to end such wars, it symbolizes the existential ennui that arises from the search for mean- ing in an absurd island which boasts of superlative GDP growth. How can we partake of the surreal setting of Carroll's party scene when politicians assure us that we are liv- ing in a land of milk and honey with low unemployment, controlled prices due to a hushed "Stabbilta" scheme and throw in for good measure lavish handouts to jump-start film industry by the Commissioner of Films. Banks are reporting bumper profits yet sadly no regulator defends depos- itors being deprived of recent rate increases advised by ECB amid an in- discriminate barrage of daily charges. Nobody stops the party and questions how our existence can be interpret- ed as a critique of social conformity and the oppressive nature of societal norms. The propaganda machine churns news from two exclusive TV stations hoodwinking islanders tell- ing them that we are living in a bubble of perpetual bliss. Regular issue of cheque payments whets the appetite of party loyal- ists who reminisce the golden years of "L-Aqwa Zmien" during the brief Joseph Muscat's interregnum. Now with only 15 weeks to the highly con- tested MEP elections, both parties are beating the drums reminding one and all to vote. A survey by a known Labour poll- ster predicts a 40,000-vote majority should Joseph Muscat join the race for MEP elections. Castille encourag- es the populace to embrace the whim- sical and fantastical aspects of life, suggesting that adhering to party al- liances offers a pathway to liberation from the world's travails. Returning to the Mad Hatter tea party, we cannot turn a blind eye that a paid piper (a young Economist paid by direct order) made us believe how the irrational funding of €145 million to international film crews is benefi- cial to enhance our GDP-returning a miraculous multiple of three. A mira- cle of two fishes and five loaves feed- ing the crowd. Any serious economist challenges this fake conclusion (as expected the Tourism Ministry barred study from publication). The absurd and nonsen- sical atmosphere of the tea party could represent the surreal and disconnect- ed nature of geopolitical discourse surrounding conflicts in regions like the Middle East. Like the characters at the tea party, political actors and stakeholders may engage in negotia- tions that seem divorced from reality and lack meaningful progress. The Russian aggression is now in its second year. There are over 30,000 casualties reported in Gaza. It seems peace is an illusion where Malta stays on the fence, claiming absolute neu- trality. The irony is that both political lead- ers have not missed a moment of pub- licity to be seen photographed - wel- coming a sick Gaza girl arriving with her father for medical treatment. De- spite efforts to resolve conflicts and establish peace in Ukraine and Mid- dle East, the fundamental ideological tensions persist, perpetuating a sense of stagnation and frustration among the affected populations. Overall, by drawing parallels be- tween the dysfunctional parodies of the Mad Hatter and March Hare and the unprecedented invasion of Ukraine by Russia's warmongering and hostilities in the Middle East, we can gain insight into the absurd credo of Castille's when recently it started accusing Metsola of war mongering, as she strongly advised that Europe should beef up its defence arsenal. In conclusion, Carroll's ingenious story, reflects in a surreal way on some of the extremist figures in Mal- ta being on the right and left ends of the political spectrum. All exhibit ir- rational and chaotic behaviour.