Kont naħseb li hawn Malta biss li nibbanalizzaw id-diskors publiku. Minflok niddiskutu dwar l-alternattivi ta’ tmexxija jew ta’ politika, naqbdu mal-persuni nvoluti u naraw kif indawru d-diskors fuq l-imġiba personali tagħhom; jew inkella niddevjaw l-attenzjoni mill-konsegwenzi tal-proposti li qed isiru billi nsemmu argumenti dwarhom li m’għandhom x’jaqsmu xejn imma li jqanqlu reazzjonijiet popolari fost in-nies.
Mhu veru xejn li f’Malta biss – jew l-aktar – li dil-ħaġa tiġri. Bogħod minn hekk. F’pajjiżi akbar minn tagħna għalkemm mitqiesa bħala fost iż-żgħar, u f’pajjiżi akbar sew minna – fir-Renju Unit dwar il-Brexit, fl-Istati Uniti dwar il-proposti tal-President Trump u oħrajn, l-eċċessi fil-mod kif jitfissru l-kontroversji dwar l-għażliet li jitqajmu ma jaqtgħux. U l-midja soċjali komplew jgħinu biex dil-ħaġa ssir.
Ma tantx naqbel li huma biss il-populisti li telqu f’din it-triq. Nara li qed isegwuha anke partiti “demokratiċi” tradizzjonali u s-segwaċi tagħhom. L-ibbanalizzar tal-politika donnu sar dejjem aktar għodda strateġika effettiva għall-gwadann tal-voti bit-taħwid tal-imħuħ.
POLITIKU VERSU EKONOMIKU
Il-konfront bejn il-gvern reġjonali Katalan u l-gvern ċentrali Spanjol dwar l-indipendenza tal-Katalunja baqa’ sal-aħħar wieħed politiku. Il-poplu Katalan għandu jew m’għandux dritt jiddetermina taħt liema sistema nazzjonali jrid jgħix?
Il-konsegwenzi ekonomiċi ta’ deċiżjoni, naħa jew oħra, ftit dehru li qed jingħataw importanza. Sadattant, numru ta’ kumpaniji dehru li qed ilestu biex jitilqu mill-Katalunja u jmorru fi Spanja. Jekk tiġi dikjarata l-indipendenza, jkunu baqgħu fl-Unjoni Ewropea.
Dil-biċċa fakkritkni kif matul il-kampanji biex Malta tidħol membru tal-Unjoni Ewropea, kien jiġri l-istess. Dawk favur is-sħubija sħiħa kien jibqgħu lura milli jiddiskutu b’mod konkret il-konsegwenzi ekonomiċi tas-sħubija u jisħqu l-aktar fuq l-aspetti “politiċi”.
SPORT FL-UNIVERSITÀ
Qatt ma kont bniedem sportiv; bil-maqlub. Imma dejjem għaraft l-importanza li għandu jkollu l-isport f’ħajjitna, mhux l-anqas fost it-tfal u ż-żgħażagħ.
Għalhekk stagħġibt mhux ftit insir naf kif sal-lum fl-Università, il-faċilitajiet sportivi huma nieqsa kważi għal kollox. Kien mingħalija li jeżisti gimnażjum, u faċilitajiet għal taħriġ fl-atletika u fl-isport ta’ barra. Hekk jixraq f’università ħalli studenti li huma diġà sportivi isibu qrib il-post tal-istudji tagħhom, fejn jitħarrġu u jipprattikaw, u fejn studenti oħra jistgħu jitħajru jagħmlu hekk. Dan aktar jagħmel sens minħabba l-fatt li l-popolazzjoni studenteska baqgħet tiżdied bil-kejl tal-eluf.
Imma le. Il-faċilitajiet sportivi għadhom primittivi. Tista’ tgħid li huma kważi non-eżistenti. L-istudenti interessati fl-isport jinsabu frustrati ħafna, u nifhimhom. Dawk li bħal ma kont jien, mhumiex interessati fih mhu se jkollhom l-ebda opportunità jibdlu fehmiethom.
Din mhijiex problema ċkejkna.
English Version – Banalisation
I used to believe that it is only in Malta that public discourse is banalised to such an extent. Instead of discussing the available administrative and policy options, we focus on the people involved in the issues and see how to spin the discussion towards their personal behaviour; or seek to divert attention away from the consequences of proposals that are being made, by creating arguments about them that are completely irrelevant but which incite emotional responses among people.
But the truth is that this hardly happens only, or mostly, in Malta. Far from it. In countries that are larger even if still considered to be among the smaller ones – indeed among the bigger places – such as in the UK over Brexit, in the US over President Trump’s proposals and elsewhere – the excesses that are indulged in, meant to highlight banal controversies at the expense of debate over the available choices, never cease. The social media keep pushing the process forward.
I disagree that it has only been the populists who have actioned this method. Traditional “democratic” parties and their supporters have also adopted it. The banalisation of the political domain seems to have become the most effective strategic tool by which to confuse minds and successfully hunt for votes.
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Politics versus economics
The confrontation between the regional Catalan and the central Spanish governments has stayed right through focussed on political issues. Do the Catalan people have the right or not to determine under which national system they should live?
The economic repercussions that a decision, one way or the other, would have were relegated to the margins. Meanwhile, a number of companies appeared to be making ready to move out of Catalonia and into Spain. If Independence were to be declared, they would have remained within the EU.
The process reminded me of how the same would happen during the campaigns regarding Malta’s application to join the EU. Those who advocated Maltese membership would shy away from discussing in concrete terms the economic consequences of membership and would focus mostly on “political” aspects.
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Sport at university
I never was into sports – to the contrary. Still, I always accepted that ideally, sports should be an important feature of our lives, not least as children and young adults.
So, I was totally surprised to learn that as of now, sports facilities at the University are almost non existent. I had believed there would be a gym as well as facilities for training in athletics and outdoor sports. That is what is needed on University premises to ensure that students who are already into sports can find close to their place of study a location where to train and practise, as well as to encourage other students to do the same. Such a facility makes much more sense given that the student population has been growing by the thousands.
But no. Sports facilities at Tal-Qroqq are still primitive. You could say they are non-existent. Students who are sports inclined experience deep frustration. I can understand that. Those who share my mindset and lack an interest in doing sports will find no opportunity to change their view.
It’s not a minor problem.
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