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editorial
The jury system
There were no ugly distorted words for the jury system last Wednesday
and no spoken doubts that it was an archaic set-up.
And there were no one rushing off to find solace in a microphone
and hurl disproportionate commentaries for the abolition of the
system.
Which goes to confirm that we only raise hell when it suits us.
There were no war cries this time round about the jury system, since
on this occasion, Mr Meinrad Calleja was found guilty of all crimes
linked to drugs – by a jury, incidentally.
Let us all be very truthful about this one: Meinrad Calleja was
declared guilty before appearing on the stand.
His character was fed to the ravens by the political press as if
he were the centre of all evil in the country, the message was that
everything started with Meinrad and ended with Meinrad.
And yes, the public believed it.
Meinrad Calleja should have been tried like any other Tom, Dick
or Harry – in our view, he was not.
Granted, one does not believe he was an angel, but that is beside
the point.
The author of this leader witnessed at first hand the manipulation
of the media.
It was shocking and very bad.
There should be no remorse for drug traffickers, but there should
be fair trials.
The decision to ban anything about Meinrad Calleja only took place
after his name had been bandied around day in day out by the media.
When it was implemented, it was only applied to the stories that
queried the prosecution, the judiciary and the authorities. And
we speak from experience, having had to wrangle with the courts
over accusations that we had committed contempt for printing fair
comment.
And we could mention other sinister characters such as those that
have murdered, robbed and dabbled in drugs, but walked free from
the courtrooms. Only to be greeted by flashing bulbs, flowers and
smiling reporters.
Is this the right time for saints?
When the Prime Minister chose to mention Dun Gorg Preca during a
political speech, we sat back astounded.
What in heaven's name does Dun Gorg Preca have to do with political
vision?
We are told that saints and their relics formed the focal point
for Roman Catholic and Orthodox life. The number of saints a Christian
community had concocted was used as a measuring stick for its commitment
and spirituality.
This is an irony, for it is Christian belief that the soul's departure
for Paradise would be followed by little or no veneration for bones
and tombs.
But the opposite is true.
The Church in Malta retains or remains one of the most conservative
of all the Catholic churches. In the short span of a year, we may
very well be celebrating three Maltese saints.
They have come a thousand years' late.
In the distant past, the absence of saints was read as a mark of
paganism, illiteracy and complacency.
When all over the Christian world saints and their relics have been
devalued, here in Malta we are celebrating a reincarnation of the
bizarre.
Basing a Christian revolution on the likes of Saint Priscus and
Saint Nicetius fails to respect the realities of the times.
Today's Christians are literate, educated, sceptical, dynamic and
questioning. The culture of saints is outdated.
If we are searching for role models, we have selected the wrong
type.
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