Question a native born US citizen about his/her nationality and the surprising response most likely will be American, prefixed by some other distinctive mark of origin such as Italian/American, Japanese/American, etc. The lack of hesitation in describing oneself as a member of a sub or ethnic group makes American citizenship sound as if it were a mere afterthought. This paradox with dual identity and split loyalty, is a reflection of a hugely successful polyglot nation made up of immigrants originating from every continent on earth. There is in this kaleidoscope of self assertiveness much which may be said of Malta. Like the United States with its multi-racial society Malta's communal fabric does not represent a racial breed apart. It is instead a microscopic copy of the larger American demographic model blessed with similar diversity. The answer as to who the Maltese are other than an island people begs a closer study of their ancient roots and fascinating history.
The origin of prehistoric people who first settled Malta is lost to antiquity. There is strong archeological evidence that at about BC 5000 the Maltese archipelago was once part of a land bridge connecting the European and African continents. Fossil and skeletal animal remains of species now found on both continents were unearthed at Ghar Dalam, a cave located on the southwest coast of Malta. There followed a succession of settlements and rulers who constructed the island's megalithic temples before they disappeared into oblivion. The people of the temples were in turn followed by Phoenicians (Syria), Greeks, Carthaginians (Tunisia), Roman, Byzantine (Turkey), Aghlabid Arabs (North Africa), Norman (Scandinavia), Genes (Italy), Swain & Angevin (Sicily), Arrogance (Spain), Knights Of St. John (Rhodes), France and Britain. It was the Aghlabid Arabs that most likely gave Malta its native tongue. Few countries have had such a rich tapestry of military occupation from which much was learned and assimilated into local culture. Akin to the abduction and rape of the Sabine women during the reign of the Roman Emperor Romulus, each wave of foreign conquerors brought with it a measure of interbreeding. The steady infusion of genes from continents near and far gave the Maltese their genealogical profile.
In spite of Malta's proud claim of sharing a direct line of ancestry from Phoenicia, there is scant scientific corroboration of it being valid. By extension almost every island or country bordering the huge Mediterranean basin boast of an identical lineage with as much dubiosity . What may be said with a degree of certainty of Malta's racial strain is that its people are mainly of southern European stock with a notable infusion of Arab blood. The predominate cultural influence in Malta is clearly Latin. Malta shares the same Catholic faith, ecclesiological outlook and attitude as Sicily, with which it once stood as one nation. Formerly burdened by a church ridden society, religious domination is a fading shadow of Malta's teleological and liturgical past. With its new found civil freedom Malta is emerging as an autonomous and fully integrated independent society in lock step with other progressive European nations. A main factor which unifies the Maltese is their beloved language, a noble Arabic dialect written in Roman script which has withstood the ravages of foreign occupations over the millennia.
The stereotype profile which emerges is that of a typical Mediterranean people, medium to small built, olive skinned, quick tempered, contentious, unstructured and some observers would argue arrogant (egocentric) in ways island people habitually isolate themselves in defense from the world at large. They have strong extended family values, adore children above all else, and are less likely to be dogmatic in religious outlook and moral convictions than in recent past. Maltese hospitality is legendary. A warm hearted people they are naturally inclined to extend a hand of welcome towards total strangers. It is deservedly said that a foreigner who visits Malta for the first time will thereafter always return as a friend for life.
The strong Protestant work ethic which the British tried to introduce with minimal success within the ranks of Malta's working class and civil sector employees was obscured by a typical laissez-faire Mediterranean tendency to stretch honest labor into leisure hours. The Maltese are an intelligent people as equally evidenced by an impressive array of high educational standards and professional accomplishments attained at home and abroad, particularly in North America and Australia. For many who migrate in search of fame and fortune the mental state of being Maltese continues with undiminished capacity. Many citizens possess an uncanny ability to converse fluently in several languages. Maltese and English are the official languages of government and instruction, though Italian, and French are also often spoken with equal ease. They are a proud, courageous people whose valor during WWII under seemingly insurmountable odds helped them maintain their freedom from Axis occupation, and as some historians have proposed helped shape the Allies' final victory in a most significant manner.
While the Arabs held Malta for 220 years (870-1090) in return for bestowing it with cultural and economic benefits, the British rule lasted 180 years (1799-1979). British influence is evidenced by Maltese civil and criminal laws based on the British legal constitution. Another lasting legacy of colonial occupation are the many offspring of British servicemen stationed in Malta over the years. As already noted this repeat pattern of cross-breeding infused Malta's population with genetic DNA from across all of Europe with a touch of Arab blood. Malta's racial composition is clearly a reflection of being exposed to a sustained cycle of aggression and conquest waged between European and Asian maritime powers for control of the central Mediterranean. There is in reality no true native Maltese identity anymore than ancient tribal people from Asia who crossed over to Canada and the United States via the frozen Barents Straits can claim to be North America's original Indian settlers. Anthropological evidence notwithstanding the sense of being Maltese is a living reality.
For all the confusion the Maltese know who they are, a people struggling with increasing difficulty to retain a semblance of national identity and freedom, while asserting their legitimate place within an extended family of Europe. The recent withdrawal of Malta's request for admission with the EU must be reconsidered with renewed urgency. It is a hefty decision which has already come back to haunt Malta in terms of having to potentially pay a higher price for membership in future negotiations. It is not possible for Malta to simply straddle the fence in limbo for much longer, between choosing to surrender a measure of its sovereignty to the EU as a condition of joining the club, or maintaining a posture of independence with expectation for preferential trade with a colossal Europe. Malta has overcome adversity before and will surely triumph again. The conclusion is inescapable, Malta is historically and culturally an inseparable part of Europe. As in the past it must pay homage to a greater economic and political force if it is to survive and prosper in a world increasingly segmenting in competing economic and military multi-national blocks.. It is a game of give and take with which Malta is superbly adapt at beating the odds. Of all the variables one thing is certain. Malta cannot remain alone in splendid isolation. Might it be the time has come for the people of Malta to think of themselves first as Europeans and only then as Maltese ? A growing number of Maltese seem to share this vision.
E-mail to Joseph Vella: vellajoseph@msn.net
|
|
