Our vision for 2016

An architect and civil engineer, the author is Deputy Chairman of Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party in Malta. cacopardocarm@gmail.com, http://carmelcacopardo.wordpress.com I remember reading an excerpt from a North American motivational speaker, writer and consultant, Denis E. Waitley, which goes: “A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown.”

This quote prompted me to think harder. Reading Pope Francis’ message for the fortyninth World Day of Peace, I became aware of the temptation of living in one’s comfort zone, particularly we who live in a modern western society. What the Holy Father does in this thoughtprovoking message is precisely that of challenging us to shake off the culture of indifference we are living in and move towards solidarity so that we embrace the vulnerable and the suffering.

In order to counter indifference which, unfortunately, has become globalized, we need to identify it. Pope Frances mentions stated that a “110 hectare parcel of land has been earmarked for the development.” It is pretty obvious that the as yet unidentified “110 hectare parcel of land” to be used for this proposed motorsports complex will be situated outside the development zone (ODZ). Each hectare consists of 10,000 square metres, meaning that 110 hectares equals one million, one hundred thousand square metres.

Sam Collins describes the proposal in this manner: “The government documents relating to the circuit’s development point out that part of its purpose would be to attract major international racing series, including Formula 3 and similar classes. The proposed facility would also include facilities for concerts, conferencing and a racing school. A hotel and museum of motoring and transport heritage would also be built on site. Road safety and driver training three types of indifference which are weakening the human family. Firstly, he starts with indifference to God. In a nutshell this kind of indifference occurs when “we have come to think that we are the source and creator of ourselves, our lives and society” (no. 3). In order to successfully overcome this kind of indifference, which portrays “a false humanism and practical materialism allied to relativism and nihilism” (no. 3) we simply need to put God first in our lives. Was this not Blessed Paul VI’s message when he said: “There is no true humanism but that which is open to the Absolute, and is conscious of a vocation which gives human life its authentic significance.”

The second type of indifference which Pope Francis utterly condemns is that against our neighbours. The Holy Father laments that “some people are well-informed; they listen to the radio, read the newspapers or watch television, but they do so mechanically and without engagement” (no. 3). How sad if the communications media leaves us passive instead of active when we see the suffering of others! Some may try to ease their consciences by “indulging [themselves] in unwarranted generalizations” (no. 3). They attempt to avoid their responsibility by “claim[ing] that the solution is an ‘education’” (no. 3). However, the Pope comments, “all this becomes even more exasperating for the marginalized in the light of the widespread and deeply rooted corruption found in many countries – in their governments, businesses and institutions – whatever the political ideology of their leaders” (no. 3).

Finally the Pope addresses the indifference shown to the environment. He says that “water and air pollution, the indiscriminate exploitation of forests and the destruction of the natural environment are often the result of man’s indifference to man, since everything is interrelated” (no. 3).

Due to this tripartite attitude of indifference, the Holy Father proposes the culture of solidarity and mercy to conquer and heal our wounded hearts. By promoting a culture of solidarity, Pope Francis proposes solidarity “as a moral virtue and social attitude born of personal conversion” (no. 6). Solidarity “calls for commitment on the part of those responsible for education and formation” (no. 6).

The first faithful aide of solidarity should be our families. For the Argentinean Pontiff families are not only “the first place where the values of love and fraternity, togetherness and sharing, concern and care for others are lived out and handed on” but also “the privileged milieu for transmitting the faith, beginning with those first simple gestures of devotion which mothers teach their children” (no. 6). The second aide of solidarity are teachers. In fact, “teachers, who have the challenging task of training children and young people in schools or other settings, should be aware that their responsibility extends also to the moral, spiritual and social aspects of life. The values of freedom, mutual respect and solidarity can be handed on from a tender age” (no. 6). The final aide of solidarity are communicators. Since theirs is the “responsibility for education and formation” (no. 6), they are called to propagate this culture of solidarity.

May these three principal stakeholders of our society help us realize “our fundamental vocation to fraternity and a life in common” (no. 3). This should be our common vision for 2016 and beyond.

Happy New Year!

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap Paola