Opinion • December 28 2003

Charity versus freebies

Saviour Balzan enters no man’s land and questions the chemistry of ‘L-Istrina’

One former editor of the Manchester Guardian considered by many to be the greatest editor Britain has had, had this to say about newspaper columnists. "It is like having the biggest s*** of their lives." He was also the father of that famous quote from the journalist’s bible, ‘Comment is free but facts are sacred."
There is no beating round the bush. This column is the most abusive piece of one-sided regurgitated, self-laudatory bit of writing you can get west of Naxxar and South of Mgarr. Scroll to another column, if you feel I am too much.
So, it is left to me, to pass judgement on L-Istrina. As I write I have no idea how much has been collected for charity.
It is not collecting money for charity that is questionable, but the way this is being carried out. It has long become clear that marketing has become king, and without the theatrics that grace our TV screens all too often, the money raised would never reach such dizzy heights. But this circus of transvestite rituals and give-aways for charity is an unforgivably pagan event.
At the same time one cannot help thinking that there should be a stronger argument for ensuring that society looks after its poor and underprivileged. Those that need help should be assisted by right, and not with the holier and thou pontificating of our contributors to charity.
It is true that hitting the million jackpot calls for party time and magicians, more so in a period when everyone feel they could do with a sizeable savings account. But this give away Scud attack and orgy of lotteries confirms that the people’s charitable streak is being tantalised to the most bizarre of extremes.
Now, I know that taking
L-Istrina and its team to task is a taboo, no one touches these people. One is expected to kow tow to them. They are, in the media sense, the untouchables and they traditionally hit back at their critics with what was their biggest nightmare – absolute boycott. Anyone who has dared, has had to suffer the repercussions of having wandered so far.
Indeed, in the past, any attempt to ponder a few thoughts on the team behind Istrina brought to the fore accusations of either being; mad (skwilibrat in Maltese), envious, sanctimonious, hateful, nothing much better to do with your life, jealous or downright moronic.
It should not be that the annual jungle expedition carried out every year to donate monies to the needy requires silly appearances on TV. In other words distasteful declarations of piety in return for the chance either to slot oneself on the box or better still the chance to win a car or one of the many products consciously donated by market oriented and commercially driven companies.
It is a fitting end to a year that kicked off with new adrenaline highs in the first four months of the year and later on in the year with anxiety stomach cramps.
Call it what you wish, but if every simple action of goodwill in Maltese society can only come about if there is some form of fiscal or commercial contribution, then truly we have reached new lows.
It reflects, in more than one way, on our very Latin and nepotistic culture, emphasised in our political system that continues to control the electorate with its favours and freebies every five years.