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J’accuse : Patients and their virtues

In case you were wondering, yes, I did survive my bachelor’s weekend in Italy. There’s nothing like spending some quality time with close friends who can second guess your every whim and fancy without batting an eyelid. It would indeed be a great world to live in if we all managed to live together like bosom buddies without feeling the need to justify our existence by highlighting our differences.

I only bought one book in Bologna − “Costruire il nemico” − a series of essays by Umberto Eco. In the first essay, Eco speaks of the need that has always existed in society of “constructing the enemy” and of the different manners in which such an enemy has been constructed. The essay is a roller-coaster ride through history that chronicles this historic “construction”: from Cicero’s depiction of his Catiline enemies, through the early Encyclopaedia Britannica entries on “Negroes”, through historic views (by “others”) on Saracens, Hitler on the Jews, Boccaccio on women or whoever else on whatever other category has been unlucky enough to be pigeonholed as the detestable enemy.

“(…) sin dall’inizio vengono costruiti come nemici non tanto i diversi che ci minacciano direttamente (come sarebbe il caso dei barbari), bensi coloro che qualcuno ha interesse a rappresentare come minacciosi anche se non ci minacciano direttamente, cosi che non tanto la loro minacciosità ne faccia risaltare la diversità, ma la loro diversità diventi segno di minacciosità”.

Think different

They say that a week is a long time in politics so I thought that an unplanned pause from the blogging and political scene would mean a return to topics new. Not really though, it was only last week that I was commenting on the farce that was the MUMN’s badly managed PR about the supposed stress caused to the entire Maltese health system by 16 (yes, sixteen) Libyan patients (one has sadly passed away since then).

Meanwhile, Dr Gonzi has declared the ITU closed for business in a very pre-Arriva bus-driver style declaration of “Full Up”. The MUMN, eager to stay ahead in the national foot-in-mouth championships couldn’t resist another jibe at the country’s political priorities. Apparently, the MUMN must have felt that crassly insinuating that Libyans should not be treated before every last Maltese national gets his taxes worth is not enough. So what better way to up the ante than to engage in further stereotypification. And what better “class” of citizens to use than the “Gozitans”?

They did get the headlines on the papers: “Gozitan patients lacking same political commitment given to Libyan patients”. This either means that the patients from Gozo are not as sufficiently politically committed as their Libyan counterparts (not dying for the patria are we?) or − as the “given” in the title seems to insinuate − there is not sufficient priority being given to the needs of Gozitan people coming to Malta for treatment.

Forgetting this grammatical cul-de-sac for a minute, it is absolutely ridiculous of the MUMN to actually bring this particular card out of their twisted set of lobbying instruments. The “Gozitan” cause is useful to politicians who want to specialise in a “minority” niche (if it’s not the South then it’s Gozo or Sliema or Siggiewi) and turn it into something really, really special. It is also useful to particular columnists who tend to thrive on a bit of Gozitan beating every now and then − they do so by spuriously linking localised examples of very Maltese ignorance to one particular geographic corner − as though what happens in Gozo never happened in Bisazza Street, Rabat or Cospicua.

I know. I’m biased. But what should that change? Are we stupid enough to erect barriers on the spittle of an isle we call home? What next? “Siggiewi patients deserve more attention in Maternity Ward?” And where the hell are the ethical principles that should be the foundation for a caring profession? For heaven’s sake − doctor, nurse, scrub, whatever − if you are in a caring profession then I’d expect you in the very least to be seeing each and every patient as just that: a patient. It’s not an ID Card that you have to cure; it’s a burn, a bullet wound or a severe case of chicken pox.

“Gozitans, Libyans, Siggiewi people, Xewkija people” − that’s not the language for nurses or their representative association. It’s the dangerous language of politicians who are prepared to go down the route of “great minds” before them… a geezer named Adolf comes to mind. Don’t worry though. This should all change with the news of Gaia the dog found in a skip. All this fuss about dying Libyans and underprivileged Gozitans will soon be sidelined to favour the plight of Malta’s latest animal hero. I wonder if the Animal Welfare Centre has a policy about particular breeds. “What? A boxer? No siree… we’re politically committed to Chihuahuas, Spaniels and Whippets…. “

Different strokes

Paul Pace and the MUMN chose the wrong imagery in order to highlight what might be a legitimate complaint of theirs. If our hospital system is understaffed, if patients (no matter what ID card status) are not being given a decent service and if there are other such similar problems, then there is no doubt that it is the business of a body like the MUMN to bring this to the attention of whoever may change such things. On the other hand, the dangerous game being played of fuelling discontent with the language of hatred is absolutely not done. There is no reason on earth for a nurse, doctor or hospital receptionist to treat one patient differently from another on the basis of nationality − or (heaven forbid) the village or town he is born in.

All too often we fail to discern the dangers of the divisive language that we really employ in our dealings with political affairs. Yes, it is my usual gripe but our dualist way of seeing things − black or white, blue or red − does not help us in any way. Thinking different requires a logical leap and a change of old customs and habits. It requires first of all that we collectively look in the mirror and realise the absurdity of our current situation. We need to concentrate on “knowing ourselves” more than on “knowing/constructing our enemies”.

Just read through the news and you will see what I mean. It’s not just sick individuals putting dogs in skips. It’s permits being issued to an establishment that will manufacture gas metres away from a fireworks factory. Worse still, just look at what the two parties are packing as marketing material for the next election. We had GonziPN selling you bundles of “Pride” while MuscatPL promised the masses that a PL government would give the people “Hope”. Hope? Pride? Talk about intangible faff. I had a dream where I filled my car tank with “Hope” and then proceeded to pay the station attendant in little “hope coins”. “That’s all I’ve got mate… but at least we got a change in government”.

Sunny Michaelmas

We had a sunny Michaelmas up north. That’s the 29th September. Apparently it means that we will have a mild and possibly sunny winter. Tell that to the stork who is gracing Gozo with its majestic presence. Do you follow the news like me − with that sinking feeling that any moment now the next update will say “Stork shot dead over the sea”? Why does it have to be like that? Where do we find all this darn hatred and anger that we unleash on a regular basis?

The ancient Greeks had the words “Know thyself” inscribed on the entrance to the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Sun-Tzu, the Chinese philosopher is attributed the saying “Know your enemy” in his Art of War. That’s some classical thought that is valid to this day. We might do well to do some introspective reflection − there’s time yet for the construction of another round of enemies − we’re only a few months away from full election fever anyway.

 

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Jasmine

The Pride of Lions

Do you have Independence day hangover? Are you still reeling from the injection of pride in our country and its achievements – especially in its delayed reincarnation as the potential Florence Nightingale of the Libyan Spring? Or are you still feeling rather indignant at the “divisive” call for AST’s resignation? Better still, are you still clutching your aching sides after laughing all night at Labour’s non sequitur style reponse that “if my ex-Foreign Minister was an arsehole then your ex-Leader /PM / President played host to a flurry of arseholes in the early nineties”?

However you may have woken up this side of Independence Day, you will surely have gone through your morning papers and probably, like J’accuse, you’d have noticed the glaring inconsistencies in this proud nation’s dealing with foreigners. Here they are in black and white.

The Black – No to injured Libyans

On the one hand GonziPN’s efforts to weave a new heroic story into the tapestry of our PLPN history books have come under fire from an unexpected source. The (very christian) spokesperson of some Union of Nurses complained that Mater Dei has enough on its hands as it is and does not need to play nurse to any injured Libyans. Paul Pace, head of the MUMN told the government that “bigger countries with more facilities should address such problems”. Boom goes GonziPN’s plans of proud nation humbly serving the weak and the injured. Don’t hold your breath for a Joseph Muscat position on this mess by the way. He either criticises MUMN (read votes) for their tunnel vision or he criticises Gonzi’s plans thus losing cred on his “I love New Libya” mantra.

As for the proud nation sticking its neck out for others – here is the best source to tap the pulse of the nation … the Times online comment board:

Ms Maria Vella

Today, 09:59

Let us stop being all politically correct and call a spade a spade!

Mr. Pace did not beat around the bush and stated the situation as it is. We have enough Maltese patients (who pay taxes and contribute towards the running of this hospital) waiting for treatment, in corridors or at home, or even worse sent home because of lack of space but we find place and resources to treat foreigners.

Whilst my sympathies go towards the injured Libyans, charity should begin at home!

Now there’s a thought Mr. Prime Minister. A sympathy card to Libya and that’s that. Where’s Tonio Borg when you need him?

The White – Yes to rich magnates

Frank Salt, of Frank Salt properties, describes the new conditions for obtaining a residency in Malta as “a large hammer being used to crack a delicate egg” (TOM – Messing with the economic motor). Apparently the new conditions for your average Russian euro-burner to settle down in Malta are “very complicated, extraordinarily expensive, virtually prohibitive” – dixit Frank. It seems that the developers’ apple cart has been upset:

Was it sensible for the authorities to continue to allow new building developments specifically targeted at potential new foreign buyers, to sprout up all over our Islands, when they knew that they were about to unload this bombshell, that would and could, and no doubt will, upset the whole apple cart?

And the property developers are angry. They’re angry at the government that encouraged them to develop land to sell it off to Non-EU citizens (not injured Libyans mind you… for that we have Mater Dei) and then came up with these conditions. Here’s Frank being Frank again:

Today, the local property industry first works its backside off promoting Malta as a safe, inexpensive and pleasant place in which foreigners and their families can come and live in peace. Then, when the market gets off its feet, quality developments are built, foreign residents, permanent and temporary come to Malta to see whether they would like to live here… bang… once again it is time to mess things up.

And then there is the music for the environmentalist’s ear:

Now we have to see how we are going to sell the hundreds of properties that are currently on the market and those hundreds more that have new permits to build.

Dunno Frank. I’m thinking that you should sell some of that space to … lemme see… a Qatari developer who could then invest some of his money into … hmm… a hospital. There would  be some divine justice in that wouldn’t there? An exclusive hospital built to service the wounded and injured from the Arab Spring. The developers would get their money. The nurses would get their break from the influx in Mater Dei and the government would sell this off as some smart move. Lovely no?

Finale

Of course mine is a tongue in cheek suggestion to Mr Salt. What really jars is the existence of this reality on our tiny rock. On the one hand we have those christians who cannot accept the idea that our valuable hospital space is being taken up by “foreigners” (stop bleeding on my soil) and on the other we have those business minded few who are dying to get the right type of foreigner (those who bleed money) to our shores.

It’s normally Joseph Muscat’s job to blame Gonzi for everything under the sun (including tsunamis and world economic crisis). I’d just say simply that our political establishment are getting the “proud” citizens they have nurtured and that they deserve.

What you reap is what you sow. Maybe it’s time to wake up.