Editorial

The Birth Of Christ, which we celebrate on Wednesday, signified the beginning of the redemption of humankind from the heavy burden of original sin by the Son of God made man. St Luke narrates that the angels, proclaiming the coming of the Messiah to the shepherds in Bethlehem on that joyous night 2,000 years ago, announced glory to God in Heaven and peace on earth among all those of goodwill.

Christmas therefore should be a season of goodwill. Sadly, crass commercialism and a decline in spirituality have turned this great Christian feast into one giant rush to spend, to celebrate and make merry - with many people's minds crowded by so many thoughts except the one which counts most: how to truly celebrate Christ's birth by being at peace with one's family, one's neighbour - and with oneself, and how to share the joy of peace by giving generously and selflessly.

Thankfully, the characteristic Maltese generosity is never more evident than at this time. It is, after all, a manifestation of our long-standing Christian tradition. Not only do we give and exchange gifts and greetings, but many respond willingly and most generously to the various appeals for charity made in so many ways.

The poor, Christ told us, will always be with you. And indeed they are - not necessarily those who are poor in resources, although there are still too many of these, but also those who are poor in companionship, in love - orphans, the sick, the elderly, the marginalised.

Whether it is to help provide for a local orphanage, or some village in the mission lands; whether it is to help bring a smile to a disabled child's face, or to cheer up an elderly woman living alone; whether it is to brighten up - even if for a day - the lives of some of the illegal immigrants in our midst, who risked all for the sake of a better future, or even to visit those serving time in jail, to atone for a crime they now regret - there are so many ways, particularly at this time of the year, to express one's generosity and solidarity.

A very convenient and popular way of doing so, of course, is to contribute money by just picking up the phone and calling some fund-raising programme on TV. In this respect, the annual L-Istrina on TVM, being broadcast on Saturday, comes to mind: you will be rewarded not only with an entertainment-packed, fantastic show, but also stand a good chance of winning truly handsome prizes! Who knows, perhaps lucky viewers will even be tempted, in a further fit of generosity, to donate the prize they won back to the various charities (with the Community Chest Fund to the fore)! What better way of expressing one's solidarity?

The people of these islands should count their blessings. We enjoy a relatively high standard of living; we have a generous welfare system, and most of us have a reasonably good income and manage to save considerably - just ask the banks! And now Malta and Gozo are on the verge of even greater prosperity once they give their go-ahead to join the European Union. The package finally negotiated and agreed to by the Prime Minister, Dr Fenech Adami, in Copenhagen last week, can be considered as a wonderful Christmas present to the people of these islands.

Sure, some are unhappy not just because they say they wanted more money, or because they say they were led to expect more money, but because - for their own reasons - they dread the prospect of forming part of the One Europe which has now become a reality.

Yet joining the European Union is not about money, or at least not just about money. It is also to be able to express our solidarity as a nation in more concrete terms, and thus be in keeping with the spirit which should prevail at Christmas. By pooling their resources the nations of Europe are not only helping each other - that's what cohesion funds are all about - but also other countries outside Europe, especially in the Third World.

When the 15 member states of the Union chipped in something like $40 billion to smoothen the accession of ten new member states, including Malta, it was the citizens of those countries, in the final analysis, who were expressing solidarity with their prospective partners inside the EU. And the Union's structures are such that to ensure that the standard of living and the quality of life of all citizens in all member states, such transfers of assets from the richer to the poor states continue until all reach a happy mean.

Being inside the Union also means enjoying the benefits (to consumers and exporters) of a vast, unencumbered market, and of the many incalculable opportunities for investment and for economic growth, enabling individual states, and the individual citizens of those states, to prosper and thus be able to show solidarity with others in turn - and not just at Christmastime.