It seems such an odd question now, but in my early youth I asked myself if my people were special in ways which set them apart from the rest of humanity. Little did I realize then that Homo Sapiens of all nationalities, color of skin and religious persuasion, share an egocentric sense of cultural and racial superiority, over others seen as less fortunate. This exaggerated sense of national identity and importance helps mask many societal imperfections which would otherwise be evidenced by sub-strata feelings of inferiority. By such definition Nazi Germany, Bolshevik Russia and other Western European nations who occupied weaker countries "to save them from themselves", would be hard pressed to compete for the honor of top villain. Thus said, the focus of this article is on the lighter side of life, as seen from the immature mind of a naive lad growing up in an island nation isolated from mother Europe by a large expanse of water. Even as tourists visit the island in growing numbers, many local attitudes still prevailing today in Malta are a direct consequence of parochialism, borne out of its geographical seclusion from the northern mainland. This distinct sense of identification is akin to how most contemporary Britons feel living apart from fellow continental Europeans situated 39 kilometers afar on the opposite side of the Dover Strait.
Having survived a brutal Axis assault of Malta during WWII, as an impressionable youngster I considered the Maltese invincible and capable of conquering the entire world. I reasoned with certainty that had there been a few more millions of my brave compatriots existing instead of being counted by the mere tens of thousands, such would have been the inevitable outcome. There was indeed no question inside my mushy mind that Malta's vast legions would have given Mongolia's Attila the Hun a run for his money. There were of course other mitigating factors which proved beyond reasonable doubt that the Maltese possessed a morality, above and beyond that enjoyed by "lesser" mortals. In retrospect, I realize my aspirations for an improved world based on higher standards of Maltese ethics were predicated on provincial, narrow concepts conceived in blissful ignorance of the infinite cultural wealth found in human diversity.
A "good" judge of character that I was, I reasoned the Maltese were devoted Catholics with no reason to question let alone challenge the church's suffocating, paternal embrace on their secular life. At one time in Malta's recent history, this state of affairs went so far as to threaten excommunication of voters who favored one political party over the other. Dedicated Roman Catholics, they attended compulsory Sunday services and other religious observances while giving their fair share of support with monetary contributions and volunteer activities. This snug lifetime arrangement between the church and its unquestioning faithful made me think the Maltese were God's chosen people at the exclusion of ill informed Protestants and other Christian sects.
As I recall England's Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Germany's Martin Luther were the rascals people loved most to hate. Furthest down the list of the damned were the unfortunate billions who aspired to Buddhism , Hinduism, the Muslim faith and other heathen religions. The Muslims in particular, were the scourge of the earth, kept at bay of course by the ever vigilant Knights of Malta who single-handedly saved the rest of Christianity from a faith worst than death, when not trafficking in slaves. Devoid of a soul these hordes, who through no fault of their own were not extended the benefit of holy baptism, would never enter the kingdom of heaven. Paradise it would appear was strictly reserved for the Maltese and other Christians who observed God's ten commandments . At least so said my well informed priest at St. Gregory's parish church in Sliema, where under threat of death or dismemberment from my devoted parents, I routinely attended mass, knelt at evening benediction and abstained from eating meat on Fridays much to my disdain for fish.
There is much to be said in favor of complacency, and the comfort it gave me knowing my place in paradise was more or less secured at the expense of others. In fairness today's enlightened church has enlarged the concept of heaven to include all people of good moral character without impinging on their faith. In the process it appears St.Peter and his staff might be working double time trying to cope with an accelerated load of applicants seeking their way through the gates to Paradise, including ex-sinners whose damned souls were reprised from eternal damnation for their insatiable taste for carnivorous gourmet servings over seafood.
The love and devotion towards the extended family in Malta is legendary. It starts with the children and stretches out towards the furthest blood relative alive. There is no question Maltese parents nurture their offspring in ways which border on adoration. No sacrifice is large enough to insure the young ones are well sheltered and provided with creature comforts and opportunities for success in adult life. It is no accident that orphanages in Malta are not as common as in other European communities. If a child is left without parents other family members will step in as surrogate parents and raise it as their own. The bond is mutual: it being reciprocated by a strong sense of affection and respect towards the parents. That such virtuosity and aspirations are in fact universal traits escaped my closed mind. Of late family cohesion has been somewhat eroded under the scourge of increased drug use and more permissive public attitudes. As a young man in my early teens who left Malta's shores for the great unknown, I felt smug about the uniqueness of Maltese righteousness. Possessed with a missionary zeal, there lay ahead of me an opportunity to share with other people of different backgrounds and nationalities the fortuitous manner in which I was born and raised. How little I understood that influencing others flows in both directions.
The beauty and danger of a simplistic young mind is its absolute ability to see vital issues in binary vision, in either black or white images with no annoying shades of gray in-between. Color is even more distracting with its endless combination of hues. It serves to complicate an otherwise warm feeling of certitude felt within familiar territory. If only the world was that simple, then my Malta would be first amongst equals. Fortunately youth, with its intolerance towards hard learned experience, is an affliction from which all patients of necessity will eventually recover. As a person who has now reached the twilight of his life I appreciate the commonality of decency in human beings. People are more alike than what sets them apart. I am proud of my Maltese heritage, but only in that it gives me a unique identity to share with others who give me something of equal or greater value in return. I do not feel threatened by propositions, conjectures or alternate lifestyles which are dissimilar to my own. As a world citizen I welcome differences of opinion as wholesome. Indeed I have come to embrace quite a few "alien" concepts by which my life has been immeasurably enriched.
For me Malta no longer beckons as a sole lighthouse with its bright beam shining in the darkest of nights, warning unsuspecting mariners of potentially dangerous shoals ahead. The "Fiore del Mondo" is but one more beautiful speck nestled within the exotic vastness of our planet. Such poetic phrases are awe inspiring but lack credibility. They are the imaginative stuff of romantic nonsense, better left for authors of heroic novellas. Clearly there are other such commendable structures worldwide, and together they form a grid for the benefit of all humanity . When all is said and done we are all cut of the same fabric. I would have it no other way.
E-mail to Joseph Vella: vellajoseph@msn.net
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