The (moral) health of the nation

Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts – Aristotle (384-322 BC)

Concern over the moral conditions of society was present in the formation of the very beginning of modern social thought. The moral condition of a nation is an important index of wellbeing of the whole of society. The decline and fall of the Roman Empire is a classic case of a degeneration of values. This example reveals the fate of civilizations and nations when their moral climate degenerates.

Never in the administrative history of these islands have so many stories of kickbacks and corruption invaded our media on a daily basis. Hardly any day passes that a new episode, more compelling than the previous emerges with so much force that it is jaw dropping. Our country seems to have been taken by storm by these stories and this begs the question whether there is something inherently wrong with the moral health of our nation.

Health is a holistic concept and touches on all aspects of life (psychological, spiritual, moral, physical and mental). Without being judgemental or personal, we need to learn if our country is morally sick and is rotting deep inside despite the rosy external healthy economic facade. Are the core values of what is morally and ethically acceptable, beautiful and good disappearing from the hearts, minds and souls of many people? Is it a case where the reputation, honour and healthy legacy bequeathed to the nation and to the children of these people have gone to the devil? In a few words, does the country need a review and re-invigoration of the constituency of its national (moral) health?

More than anything else, all these stories of bribes, misappropriation, conflicts of interest and fraud indicate that something is wrong in our educational system: whether it is religious, spiritual or ethical. Robbing the state is a crime and whether it is done through tax evasion (such as not paying VAT and income tax) or through what may seem legal means such as setting up companies in dubious tax and investment havens, these measures all constitute a crime. Lines have to be drawn and the legal and judicial system of this country must come together, say ‘enough is enough’ and declare: We need to stop this moral decay before the woodworm infects the whole structure, lest it comes crashing on us all. Only in this way can we avoid the total collapse of our social, political and religious system.

Moreover, our educational system needs to instil strong values starting from the young generation. An education (whether religious or ethical) that clearly distinguishes between what is good and what is bad and what is sin; what is vice and what is virtue. There are enough sly, crafty and cheating people around who want to give the impression that because the country is doing well economically, then it is justified to have a finger in the pie and get a lot of money through conflicts of interest and other unlawful means.

Indeed, money blinds a man/woman who has a strong moral and spiritual character, let alone a person of a weak moral character. They must not succumb to this moral malady and it is a resilient and resourceful spirit that resists the temptation at source. These people are indeed morally weak and need spiritual sustenance.

If our leaders do not lead by example and allow power to corrupt them, this example is carried on by the lower ranks and strata of society that will copy such illicit means. Can we still trust our leaders who are in positions of power without feeling abused? Have we placed our loyalty and trust in people who will lead this nation to the abyss?

One must also consider the future plight of leaders who do not seem to have the reputation of their children at heart. Is this the legacy they are leaving them? Surely, it is not nice to have your mother or father or both branded as political or administrative crooks! These children will curse the money inherited using dubious and unclean methods.

Indeed our nation needs to inculcate long-lost values so that our society is nurtured and medicated back to health so that we can live in a healthy physical and moral environment, free from the perennial diseases it is facing. Surely most of the honest people of Malta and Gozo all yearn that this will soon become a reality.

Lines have to be drawn and the legal and judicial system of this country must come together, say ‘enough is enough’ and declare: We need to stop this moral decay before the woodworm infects the whole structure, lest it comes crashing on us all