New mentality needed

The General Council of the Nationalist Party held in November will long be remembered for a first-class address by the renowned sociologist Anthony M. Abela. His talk is the rich harvest of 16 years' scrunity of values and political sociology which Maltese society has been going through while on the threshold of joining the European Union.

In his opinion a social change should never be a phenomenon that takes us by surprise and has to be accepted willy-nilly. Doing nothing is no option at all. On the contrary, it has to be society itself that should conduct a soul-searching study of new circumstances so as to renew itself, sifting the chaff from the wheat, formulating new structures and a brand new mentality. There's nothing worse than stagnation in life.

The overall progress and genuine renewal cannot be obtained unless every individual feels the indispensable responsibility to work for the common good of the country. Indeed there must be a collective effort.

The learned sociologist stated that this new mentality will not produce a rich harvest unless it is preceded by a very wide and intelligent discussion as befits a democratic society. Ultimately, it is the duty of competent authorities to carry out a thorough study of all views and of opinions expressed by all individuals and groups and give the right direction without unnecessary procrastination and bureaucracy.

New problems require new methods and new approaches. Now that Malta will be joining the EU in less than six months, there is perhaps more sense in the old axiom "time and tide wait for no one". Dr Abela firmly believes that, despite its size, Malta has a golden opportunity to put itself more meaningfully in the international sector and to make sure that the Maltese will feel more united in their own islands. We have to pull the same weight together.

No one can deny that since independence in 1964, Malta has made gigantic progress in its economy and in the distribution of its wealth. At the same time the traditional social structures have undergone a substantial change, long-standing values have been seriously shaken and new social challenges have almost suddenly appeared. Indeed, criminality has increased, the number of children out of wedlock has greatly increased, and the number of broken marriages and families with serious social problems is very steadily on the increase. For sure, time is not on our side.

It has to be admitted that while economic capital has been increasing regularly and steadily, the social capital has been suffering a downward trend. No doubt, one has to reflect very seriously that money is not everything in life. While we all have to live the present, we all have to live our future. Our future will be as we plan it today.

Dr Abela very appropriately pointed out that the sound confidence of the Maltese in the important structures of our islands has suddnely taken a nosedive.

The phenomenon of blatant corruption in the highest level of the judiciary, sexual abuse on children by members of the clergy, irregularities in the assignment of contracts, the overspending by certain government departments, the increase in the national debt, the impending need of a secure system of social security, sustainable pensions and health, have to be faced seriously and as a united nation... and our nation includes also those who for years have been cheating blatantly by failing to pay their taxes. Their failure certainly needs a new mentality.