There's nothing new or particularly Maltese about the racist views being expressed by certain individuals. But there is something distinctly surreal about the whole story. This is caused, I think, by the fact that Maltese debate often takes place in an intellectual vacuum - cut off from realities and debates elsewhere - which is very difficult to navigate.

Imagine that you were brought up on a small Mediterranean island. Imagine that you have never picked up a book, have never read a foreign newspaper and think that politics is summed up in two words: Lawrence and Fredu. Imagine that for as long as you can remember the only 'debate' you have witnessed is the eternal one between Lawrence's party and Fredu's party. Imagine that one of these debates involved the slogan "m'ghandniex bzonn il-barranin. Dawk jigu jehdulna xogholna." Few other debates take place. Imagine that you have been taught that there is One Truth and that 98% of your fellow countrymen profess to believe in the same Truth. Imagine that the local newspapers encourage you to define yourself in terms of this Truth. Imagine that the little bit of history you recall from your schooldays was the Great Seige of 1565 "bejn il-Maltin qalbiena u l-ghadu Tork". European history, nada. World history, nada. Current events, nada. Tista' Tkun Int, yes. And keep in mind that like 90% of your fellow Maltese you have never read a single book. Rightist groups are set up which, at the very least, justify a feeling of hatred you feel towards 'different people'.

'Illegal immigrants' escape from their sub-standard detention centre.

You are overheard saying "They should be burnt in the square".

A well-meaning (but hardly brilliant) editor of a local newspaper wonders "Surely, there are ways of keeping them busy and alleviating their boredom. For example, they should help, in their own interest, to keep toilets clean. Also, could not some scheme of putting them to work on public cleaning projects, under strict supervision, and for a small allowance, improve things? There are many jobs they could be given - God knows the island needs a massive sprucing up! The scheme could start with a few small groups, and eventually expanded. Naturally it must be ensured that at the end of their day's work, they return to "base"." source

Surreal.

Finally, when all is said and done the situation proves another important thing (if it ever needed to be proved): the limits of the Nation State and, in particular, of Malta as a nation state. It is simply clear that we can't cope without 'Europe'. Criticising this government's behaviour is probably justified on a number of counts but one must recall, for fairness' sake, that this is a huge problem. Sharon's piece about integrating immigrants into Maltese society seems sensible until you ask yourself how Malta would deal with 50,000, 200,000, no 400,000 immigrants. Which is not far-fetched in the present circumstances. But assuming that the boatloads of desperate immigrants do land in Malta purely by accident en route to Italy (as seems to be the case), one should ask the Opposition leader (who still thinks that 'Partnership' was the better option) how he would have dealt with the situation had he been in government. Remember, Rajna f'idejna was Labour's clarion call for 10 whole years. And Labour will probably form our next government. This is not simply a quibble. It is important that we admit this sooner rather than later.