What freedom?

The concept of freedom. Sounds so simple. Sounds so soothing. Almost agonisingly beautiful. This is no fairy-tale however. No one knows the outcome. Many of us don’t even know how the story started. All we know is that they’re here. Now what?

Abunch of people entered in our superyacht filled waters on a dingy dinghy filled to the brim with people. Some of them take their first steps on this shark-infested land during the dead of night at an obscure hour of the day, whilst others wash up when the sun is at its highest in a secluded bay where children are celebrating their freedom from the end-of-year exams.

Either way, washed up, rescued, salvaged, all eyes are on them, waiting for their next move, as if they carried with them the bomb that tore their city apart in some small compartment and left all their precious belongings behind to make sure that they wreak havoc once they touch European soil.

The concept of freedom. It’s ironic. It’s funny. We are deemed to live in a free country, amongst the top guns in civil liberties. We celebrate it with great delight, as we should, but all we’re doing is dressing up one minority with rights whilst stripping the other without even leaving a shred of dignity.

“But they should be thankful we didn’t let them drown” they say. Imagine if a lifeguard thought that way. Imagine if a lifeguard refused to do his job unless he receives thanks. I dread to think what would happen if our civil servants were to operate with that logic. It’s basic human decency to help a person on the brink of death.

In an era of individuality and innovation, we put them in lines, coop them up in busses to take them to tiny living quarters and detain them or impose on them a curfew. Not quite the idea of freedom that they dreamt of having, not quite the new chance at life they were hoping they would get.

Don’t be mistaken, the majority of them do not wish to be here. Away from home, family, everything they have ever known.

They were constrained and forced to leave to give themselves a fighting chance at life. Many of these journeys terminate before they even reach our shores.

The concept of freedom. It is somewhat non-existent. It has borders and limitations. We shouldn’t be surprised that after all they’ve been through, they riot and beg for freedom.

I understand that this is an alien concept to many, to me also, however I would never suggest gassing them because they wish to be free, they wish to work, they wish to be given a chance. Should they be punished for their actions? By all means, the law is there for all and none shall evade it. But, if they are to be subjected to our laws, one shouldn’t be surprised to learn that they have rights.

It is a known fact that foreigners help us develop our societies, economy, labour market. We cannot diminish the country’s potential because we refuse to diversify ourselves. It is not only unfair to the future generations who wish to indulge themselves in the innovations of the world, but it would be a disservice to the country in general if our train of thought is nothing but purist. It will lead to nowhere other than utter obscurity.

Instead of creating an apartheid and surrendering areas of the country deemed to be less attractive to the nationals and grumbling about ghettos, why not integrate them into our localities? That way, you’ll give people a sense of normality and establishment. Neighbours aren’t only a source of gossip, they can be of great example with the help of community policing from time to time. After all, it’s Maltese themselves who say, “L-eżempju jkaxkar.”

Instead of letting them rot, why not invest in them? Teach them the language of the nationals to communicate better. Teach them certain trades which are slowly dying because Maltese children are thriving in their formal education, thus making themselves even more useful to our economy. Most importantly, teach them rights and obligations to mould them into respectable citizens.

The concept of freedom. It eludes me and will forever intrigue me. I believe I am free but in my very same country others are trapped with nowhere to go and nothing to do. All because they had to flee their war-torn country. Victims of someone else’s egotistical policies. They’re not the enemy. They’re not aliens, just humans, like us.

The concept of freedom. It is somewhat nonexistent. It has borders and limitations. We shouldn’t be surprised that after all they’ve been through, they riot and beg for freedom