Be brave and overcome your prejudices

bBrave is a voluntary, non-politically affiliated organisation, whose core remit is anti-bullying. We have been carefully observing society’s reactions to the current political turmoil that has hit Malta. It has been challenging to make an official statement with full awareness that any word we say may be misinterpreted either way. But it is dutiful to express our thoughts when we are constantly observing so much hate being spread in the Maltese community.

Politics will likely always remain divisive, but a mature society should be able to rise above odious behaviour. We are witnessing everything from insults to death threats and unequivocal incitement to hatred. Cyberbullying has reached new heights, and it is no achievement to be proud of. We have also witnessed scuffles, some between individuals that we should actually be looking up to.

Last November, bBrave launched, for the very first time, a national Anti-Bullying Week in Malta with the theme Change Starts With Us. This targeted schools and youth organisations, but we are now convinced that the rest of us would do well to stop for a moment and think about our own behaviour and how we can be the force of positive change. Let us also give careful consideration to where our rights start and stop.

Be Brave and overcome your prejudices We cannot overemphasise this. We must stop moulding our views according to the political category we have sorted ourselves in. There is no us and them. We are but one nation, one big family, so why must we constantly strike at each other?

Unquestionably, there is good and bad behaviour. Bullying is one such bad behaviour, which comes in various forms. Hate-related bullying has shot up over the past weeks, a good portion of which amounts to criminal behaviour. This behaviour cannot be eradicated if the perpetrators believe that their conduct will go unpunished. Social media and online comments boards are replete with hate language. It is in the public interest to have peace of mind that crimes are investigated and prosecuted.

The foremost message we want to convey is this: whoever you may be, use your energies for the better good. Shed away your prejudices, exercise your authority timely and judiciously, and where you see injustice and pain, plant the seed to heal this wound. Do not be the source of misery and do not encourage or defend condemnable behaviour.

If you truly cherish your country, do something good today for the betterment of society. Hate kills!