Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/236916
9 years later Into 2014 maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 JANUARY 2014 Beyond Independence proud of what we might have achieved, disappointed over what we could have achieved, and perhaps sobered by the very meaning of an achievement in terms of one's life, loves and regrets, successes and failures, birth and death. Ultimately this is not a matter of when a nation is "born", but what it means to be an ever-growing and ever-changing society. Beyond the artificial boundaries that we set up in order to define ourselves, we must also see how, as a group of people, we share our different creeds, opinions, ethnicities, sexualities, genders, ideas and faiths. We often forget that beyond the nationalistic and patriotic sense (and nonsense) of an "us", societies and groups live together in ways that seek to make sense of an ever-growing complexity. Often we succeed. But many times we fail miserably. So we stand up again and continue to seek ways and means by which we as a society can live together in forms of associated living – which, as John Dewey reminds us, is what makes us a democracy in the first place. The problem is that the complexity of our social and democratic endeavours is often manipulated by a few who claim to have power over others. They claim to have such power by dint of some historical or metaphysical privilege, or because they "won" it democratically, or because they have enough wealth and authority to become der, social class, ethnicity, creed or none – is to celebrate an oppressive mentality that remains chained to its colonial past. The silliness of our childish arguments over which historical event is best for our country lies in the myopic vision by which many still think of democracy as a contest between political groups, parties, or movements. Every person who is familiar with Malta will know exactly what I am talking about. We are told that politics is a "dirty word" because it is associated with the dirt of privilege, corruption, and the hatred of the Other. But to say that politics is dirty would mean that we are all dirty because we are all political animals. What is indeed dirty is not politics but those who manipulate it, just as they manipulate religion or any other ideology and creed to wrench power over the other. I remember reading Ignazio Silone's Uscita di Sicurezza when I was in high school. Here he recounts a discussion between Communist party militants in the early days of the Italian Republic. There, Silone explains, one militant claimed that "comunisti si nasce" (one is born a communist), while a fellow militant retorted: "ma uomini si diventa!" (but one becomes human!). JOHN BALDACCINO Silone's account holds great importance to all of us, whatever political conviction we happen to have. One might think that he or she WHEN I was a child we used to have is born into a clan, or a party, or heated arguments in the schoolyard on indeed a country. The truth is just about everything. Which football that beyond any country, clan, team do you support? – never Malta, or party, one has to grow and but often Italy or England. Which saint become a human being. And or band club do you belong to? Who before one even attempts to do you support (ma' min iżżomm?) simply translate this into "one Mintoff or Borg Olivier? … Eddie? … is born a Nationalist or a LaKarmenu? … What is most important bourite", I would invite readin Malta's history: gaining Independers to think on a wider level: ence or becoming a Republic? one is born Maltese, but more Thinking back, I feel somewhat emimportantly one becomes – barrassed. It was stupid, a waste of indeed grows – into a human time, and more so it was sad, because being … beyond being Maleven as children we perceived each tese, or British, Italian, Somali, other with prejudice. or Eritrean … European or Such arguments were never innoAfrican. cent. They reflect a culture of division To me, it is more important passed down through generations in to be a human being than to one form or another, where "us" and claim some national badge, "them" remained ingrained within the or in the name of patriotism, cultural imaginary of a colonised sociturn one's country into a forety that was kept at bay in its discord. tress that forgets it forms part Through history, this served the inof a wider world of human beterests of those who expediently kept ings. To close oneself within Maltese civil society divided. But here one's borders adds nothing to I would hasten to add that "those" who the so-called "national intergained from this divide were not simest" which all political parties ply "foreigners" who colonised "us", love to invoke in their hour of but were (and remain) as "Maltese" as need. "we" are. Just as there is no IndependAs I turn 50, I also think of Malta's The silliness of our childish arguments over which historical event is best for our country lies in the myopic vision by which many still think of ence without democracy, I 50th anniversary of Independence. I democracy as a contest between political groups, parties, or movements would add that there can be no now know that the divisive tragedy of democracy without social jusits history was not mere kid's stuff. As tice, and more so, there can be we continue to quibble and re-write our histories, often a powerful Establishment that needs neither history nor religion no social justice without compassion. Only through compassion can reasserting our pet disputes, we forget that the struggle and less so democracy, to impose its hegemony. we celebrate our country, and only then will Independence make was neither clear (between us and them, the "Maltese" This is where we realise (if we are in time!) that there is no inde- any sense. Just as an adult must move beyond his or her childhood and the "foreigners"), nor straightforward (as both pendence without democracy. Sheer assumptions of independence in order to appreciate it, so must we move beyond Independence to political parties continue to lay claim on their rewithout a viable civil society are distorted forms of historical memo- begin to appreciate what being a democratic society first and a naspective histories). ry. Independence without democracy is a mere monument in front tion second really means. Reflecting on Malta's 50 years of Independence of which we could easily lay wreaths and gather in celebration, Prof. John Baldacchino is Chair of Arts Education at the University is no different from one's own reflection on what but which would remain meaningless. This is because beyond of Dundee in Scotland. He is the author of nine books, the latest being happened in one's life and what it means to be the ritual of voting for a majority, democracy does not exist John Dewey: Liberty and the Pedagogy of Disposition (Springer 2013) a middle-aged adult. As individuals and as a unless there are proper forms of associated living that work and Democracy without Confession: Philosophical Conversations on group of people who associate ourselves with through diversity. To celebrate Independence while rejecting the Maltese Political Imaginary (Allied Publishers 2013), which he each other on one ground or another, we feel equality within diversity in all its forms – be it sexual, of gen- co-authored with Prof. Kenneth Wain dry into submission. 1979 brings images of torches burning at Birgu and our neighbour Gaddafi triumphantly celebrating our "neutrality". Then came the 1981 elections and the acrid stench of the police state supported by the "experts" at the Embassy of North Korea. I was 22 by then and a law student preparing for the priesthood. 1984 was as true to Orwell as anything. In February 1984 I went to Warsaw as part of a delegation with KSU (Kunsill Studenti Universitarji) of which I was international secretary. I met Fr Jerzy Popiełuszko, a Polish priest and Solidarnosć chaplain who was persecuted by the communist regime. I could sympathise with Jerzy. I am a direct witness to the tragedy of a police force subservient to the government of the day. I was at St John's Co-Cathedral on 29 September 1984, the day after part of the Curia building and Chapel were devastated by thugs. Fr Jerzy was assassinated by the regime henchmen in October 1984. The news of his violent death filled me with a deep sadness and a strong motivation always to stand for the truth, even when the cost is high. (Jerzy was beatified a martyr on 6 June 2010). I became a priest in July 1986. I was sent to Rome to study Canon Law. I remember having to apply for special permission to transfer funds to Italy for my studies. Thanks to the rapprochement between the major political parties the Constitution was amended and the 1987 election results brought relief and respite to democracy. They paved the way to Malta's rightful place in Europe. When I reminisce about the Maltese countryside I used to enjoy as a boy and as a young man, I often find myself lamenting the concrete jungle we have built ourselves and our future generations. Another memorial of our Independence is the Magħtab mountain of waste and debris poisoning our air, our water table, our seas. We cannot blame the pragmatic colonial powers for that mess. In 2014 we should celebrate our survival as a democracy, we should celebrate our achievements in the cultural and economic fields, and but we should also stop to name our sins and repent. Charles Scicluna is Auxiliary Bishop and Vicar General of Malta