Eyes of naked prejudice

It is soothing that the British Minister of State at the Home Office recognises the "substantial" pressure Malta faces as the first country of arrival for many illegal immigrants entering Europe. That is better than continuing to harbour the distinct impression he had given that, speaking in Malta, in the Malta context, he was referring to the Maltese when he said "those who are good at criticising would do better to come on board and seek a solution".

Soothing and better though it might be, the minister's clarification offers no comfort at all that Malta's situation will be eased because "strengthening cooperation with source and transit countries to manage migration is a high priority for the UK's presidency of the EU" (September 1).

Malta is neither a source, nor a transit country. People who risk their lives to board boats to cross to the southern European mainland, and who end up in Malta instead, do not then "transit" from our island. That basic reality extends to the fact that EU countries that are the boat people's intended destination - as Italy provided by blunt example - will not accept boat people whom the currents push to Malta's coast or even if they are off it but are assisted at sea by Maltese elements.

EU "migration management", under whoever's presidency, does not extend to that. The most that Malta can hope for is better understanding and meaningful financial contribution. The reality is that, understanding and possible financial assistance aside, the situation is for us all to tackle. That realisation is creating more than concern arising out of limitations of size and resources.

It is bringing out the worst in some of us, letting loose xenophobia and racism. This phenomenon goes far beyond the issue of the inflow of immigrants and their impact on society and economy. It also affects people's perception of anyone who looks "different": visitors on tourism or business (for example, black EU citizens), children of mixed marriages or by adoption and spouses too. This xenophobic trend is now shifting us from the often incompetent and sometimes ridiculous into the pathetic and ugly.

Newspapers - this one included - are being criticised for allowing individuals to air strong anti-immigrant opinions. Yet, the fact that such views are externalised allows the rest of us to see them for what they are.

The terrible basic implication of these opinions is not just that they seem devoid of Christianity and humane consideration. It is that there are those who believe that boat people should be held off by force and left to the devil and the deep blue sea.

The more distinct that implication, the uglier and more pathetic and unacceptable we can all see it - even those who trigger it.

The more platitudes we hear, like those offered by the British Minister of State at the Home Office, the clearer it becomes it is we ourselves who have to determine how to tackle and live with the situation.

Had the minister anything meaningful to say he could have revealed what solutions are offered by the UK and others who are already "on board".

These unwrapped solutions do not yet include welcoming in other EU countries boat people who land in Malta. We are left to our own devices. The starting point is to do our best to solve our attitudinal problems, particularly to the extent that they are revealing xenophobia and racism.

In this regard the boat people are no more than a reminder that there is no such thing as a mono-cultural society in the post-imperial and globalised world of which we are part, all the more so within the EU. We have to learn to live with this.

Doing so would still leave the question of how to absorb, to their benefit as well as to ours, boat people who for one reason or another cannot be repatriated. At least the question could then be addressed objectively and not through the blind eyes of naked prejudice.