One protest does not exclude the other

A lot has been said about the fact that animal lovers held a protest on Sunday in defence of helpless, abused animals, with the recurring refrains: why don’t people protest in the same way when women or children are abused? Why protest against this, at a time when the Panama Papers are still making headlines around the world, with Malta’s politicians embroiled in the fray?

I have often wondered this myself, but the more I sit back and listen to try and understand what really makes people tick, the more I have come to one conclusion: people are going to be passionate about whatever is closest to their hearts, and what may be a priority for you, will never be a priority for me, and vice-versa. Even if you bang on about an issue endlessly because it stirs overwhelming emotions in you, and you consider it be your “cause”, that is no guarantee that those around you will feel the same way.

To take myself as an example, I have often tried to highlight cases of shocking domestic violence against women and horrific physical and sexual abuse against children, and the need to protect them from these situations, while imposing harsher punishment on the perpetrators.

These stories touch me profoundly and upset me deeply, particularly where children are born into dysfunctional, appalling circumstances over which they have no control, or when they fall into the hands of unscrupulous pedophiles. But while these incidents may elicit a few sympathetic or shocked comments, and perhaps a handful of “likes”, there is absolutely no comparison with the type of attention which is paid to cruelty to animals. It may be, as someone once pointed out to me, that we just feel too helpless in the face of domestic violence and child abuse, because “what can I do?”

With animals, for some reason, there is no similar feeling of helplessness, perhaps because the segment of animal lovers in Malta has grown considerably so their voices are quite loud. Numbers, undoubtedly, put you in a position of strength. And yet, the outcries over Star the dog, the cats who were being “crucified”, and most recently the fallen horse being whipped by his owner, seemed disproportionate to me.

However, over time, I have come to accept that there are people who get just as emotional about abused animals as I do about abused children. I admit I have a hard time understanding it because I have never had a pet myself and I cannot relate, but …there it is.  Having said that, I see the growing swell of support for the proper treatment of animals as a good thing, because it means that our nation still has a heart. I’d rather have a nation that cares about SOMETHING, rather than a nation that cares about nothing and treats everything with the same shrugging indifference.

But, and here’s the crunch: You cannot force or drag people to protest on issues which they don’t care about, or else to attend a protest whose motives they feel are questionable. When it comes to protests organized by political parties, I also don’t blame people for shying away in a country which is obsessed with political labelling, and where your face and name can be easily plastered all over the media for ulterior motives. (This habit of singling people out for attending a protest is unacceptable, because everyone has a fundamental, democratic right to join a demonstration if they wish).

The bottom line is, no one can dictate to others and scold or castigate them into caring about issues which don’t touch their heart and make them passionate. Whether your cause is animals, domestic and child abuse, the environment, spring hunting, the plight of refugees, politicians with offshore accounts or a desire to bring down the Government, it is very much a case of to each his own. The groundswell of support for an issue cannot be fabricated or manufactured, it is either there or it isn’t.

And above all, one protest does not and cannot exclude another. In a democratic country where we can all raise our voices, organize a protest and march in the streets, there is nothing stopping ordinary citizens from coming together to verbalize how they feel.

Those leaders within the community who have the ability to tap into what people really care about and who have the energy and motivation to galvanize others who are like-minded into action have my admiration. Especially since, on the whole, I find that apathy on national issues rules, for the very mundane reason that people are simply too absorbed in what is going on in their own life.

And finally, a word about Moira Delia’s passionate cause which is so close to her heart. From watching last Friday’s Xarabank, I get it. What upsets her is something which upsets us all in this country. No matter what the issue is, while the rules and laws and regulations are there on paper, the actual, consistent, across-the-board enforcement which is carried out without fear or favour is sorely lacking.

The Animal Welfare Parliamentary Secretary Roderick Galdes, sitting there on the panel, trying to give the impression that everything is under control, had his arguments completely demolished by Moira who presented him with documented case after case, complete with photos. Her frustration at the political stonewalling was palpable. She has stuck her neck out to criticise and lambast the authorities for their failure to do their job, and I admire her tenacity and refusal to be shouted down, something which few would dare do when they are such public figures. Unlike many people, her principles are not like chewing gum which stretch according to whoever is in government.