It makes me wonder, truly

When you get to the nitty gritty detail of the Labour Party's objection to European Union membership, you find that the obdurate stand against joining can be spelled out in one word - "small".

If "small" did not exist, the Labour leader and all those who subscribe to his view would not have a leg to stand on. If everything was "big", there would be consensus on our European bid.

But because there is "small" and "big" we have to be "pro" and "anti". Pro-membership, or against. Against isolation, or for. All because there is "small" and "big".

Why does EU membership not suit Malta? Because Malta is small.

Not because of anything else.

So says Alfred Sant.

Why should Malta not vote for membership of the EU? Because Europe is big.

I say "Europe" with awareness. Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici - he of the Front Maltin Inqumu - and the Labour Party too, as we are all aware of, would have us know there is more to Europe than the European Union.

As if we did not know.

Of course there is.

Just as there is much more to us than a heart.

But we can do without a finger, a toe, an arm, or a leg. Some even do without a brain. But can we do without a heart? And come to think of it, I hear of no one seeking to join those European countries who are not in the European Union, though the clamour for membership of the EU is deafening, from all the borders of Europe, from in between, and, at one time, even from without.

Now why is that so? I wonder.

How is it that the poor countries of Europe - the former Communist countries of Europe, Labour's former buddies, you will remember, if you remember Labour's former inclinations - are not at all daunted by the EU?

The rich EU.

Though these countries that are knocking on the EU's door, are so poor.

Poorer even than us. Much poorer. Without our communications means. Our computer literacy. Our health standards. And even our business acumen. They have resources, and are big and poor. We have no resources, and are smaller and better off.

These countries, though so poor, are seeking to compete with the rich. They are not afraid of the challenge, and sure they can teach a thing or two to those who are so much better off.

Basically, Labour's argument is that because we are small, we cannot aspire to compete with those who are big. Now what would David have done, had that been his thought as he looked on Goliath? And nearer to our time, if that were his thinking, would George Borg Olivier have sought independence, faced with an inexorable British withdrawal and huge unemployment?

He was not afraid of the world, Labour seems to be afraid of Europe.

How can anyone not see the obvious aberration in the argument - that, for Labour, Malta is too small to make headway inside Europe, as a member, but, beat the drums of heroism, big enough to stay out and single handedly take on all of the world, including the Europe they want to stay out of.

It is not only the EU which has rules. The world, too, has its own. There is a thing called the World Trade Organisation, if you will just remember. And the EU, though so almighty big and powerful, bends to the WTO's will.

But Malta, I guess, would defy that will, and do fine. Or expect preferential treatment, because it is small - though not abysmally poor, as some are who are bigger - and be sent packing.

There have always been rules. And from our corner of the world we have tried to live with them. In 1971 Dr Borg Olivier drew up an association agreement with the Common Market. It is now time to move on, and in.

I remember someone else who thought Malta could stand alone, against all of the big, wide world. He was tinkering with the idea once, of taking Malta out of the United Nations.

But the day came, for him, when he sought the protection of the Maltese parliament's Speaker.

And the Speaker then, was a woman.

With no disrespect, I assure you, to womankind.