Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1545828
10 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 12 JULY 2026 OPINION Corinne Zahra Appearance should never be a CREATIVE nonfiction writer and playwright from New York and Gozo. She is the co-founder & co-editor of the only Gozitan contemporary literary journal Mgħawġin, offering Gozitan writers the space to have their voices heard. She is an Adjunct English Instructor and writing tutor at Malcolm X College in Chicago, where she lives. IF you've never heard of the Instagram page Kunċett u Marinton—they're also on Facebook but they don't post so much on there—the page is a social commentary pro- file that discusses how Malta needs to work on strength- ening the Maltese language amongst the islands. They've also leaned on com- menting on Maltese politics, meaning, what's wrong with Malta. These are necessary things in a free and democrat- ic country. I've been following them on Instagram for a few years now I'd say, and I agree with a lot of things they write/ post about. I encourage you to check them out on Instagram. However, Kunċett u Marin- ton said racist comments. And what they've said says a lot about Malta too. On Monday 25 May, they posted a regular swipe post and on slide three they wrote: "I don't want to keep worrying about my el- derly mom who needs to catch the public bus with a bunch of people from third world coun- tries." On Wednesday 27 May, they posted another regular swipe post and on slide four, they wrote: "What's the point of a super bonus if your country is being stolen by people from third world countries?" Again, on Wednesday 27 May, they posted another swipe post and they wrote: "Why did you become a political page? A lot of people are asking us this question and we are go- ing to explain why… Language works hand in hand with the evolution of a country… Our language is being impacted according to what is going on in our country… We could not remain quiet while seeing our language continue to be bur- ied among people who barely even have an idea of European culture… let alone any under- standing of Maltese culture and identity…" These com- ments are concerning. There's a difference between "third world country nationals" and the administrative word "third country nationals" (TCNs). In Kunċett u Marinton's posts, written in Maltese, "nies tat-tielet dinja" directly trans- lates to "people from third world countries". The phrase "third world country nation- als" is an offensive Cold War era phrase. According to NPR: "The 'First World' consisted of the US, Western Europe and their allies. The 'Second World' was the so-called com- munist bloc: The Soviet Un- ion, China, Cuba and friends. The remaining nations, which aligned with neither group, were assigned to the 'Third World.'" NPR's article contin- ues to state: "'Third World' is often the first term that pops Your appearance should never be a reason to be treated unfairly or differently than others