We need a proper discussion to address people’s fears

From the comments I read about it, the Xarabank programme which dealt with xenophobia, racism and the rise of right-wing extremist views has done more harm than good.

I only saw a very brief clip which was shared online, in which the programme descended (once again) into a shambles as members of the panel were asked to sing the national anthem, presumably to make some kind of point, while the assorted members of the audience joined in, in disjointed, raucous fashion as if they were singing at some Karaoke bar. The ‘point’ being that the Maltese woman who had converted to Islam knew the lyrics while the Ghaqda Patriotti Maltin (a self-styled patriot group) did not. Former Times journalist Mark Micallef and a couple of other people on the panel simply looked on in mute, undisguised disgust.

That is the only thing I saw because I have long given up on watching the programme as a point of principle; it is obvious that in order to pander to what it considers a ‘mass audience’ the production team is incapable of conducting a proper level-headed discussion on matters of national importance.

Instead, it resorts to what I can only describe as cheap tricks to hook those who love to hate it, who then tune in with a mixture of fascination and indignation in order to be able to spew their opinion of the programme the next day.

But even if I were to attempt to watch it in order to write about it, I would not last more than five minutes because, from experience, I’m sure that watching it would not inform me or engage me at all. Instead, I would end up feeling annoyed at myself, and above all angry that the national discourse on such a sensitive, heated issue is reduced to what can only be described as a circus.

Answer me this: Has anyone, after Friday, become more open-minded and willing to listen to the other side, or have people simply become more entrenched in their beliefs?

I can tell you simply from the cross-section of people whose comments I’ve read, and to those who I’ve spoken to, that those who are against immigrants/Arabs/blacks and any integration whatsoever are even more staunchly holding on to this view. Not only that, but they are encouraging others to boycott Xarabank completely because of what they have described as a blatantly manipulated attempt to force its own agenda down viewers’ throats.

On the other side of the fence are those who are horrified by such groups as Ghaqda Patrjotti Malti for reasons which do not really need to be spelled out.

But somewhere in the middle of all these divergent opinions, there are those who are somewhere in the middle, which is where I am myself. I have no problem with people of other lands or religions coming to live here (legally), as long as they do not try to impose their beliefs or culture on me. And so far, for the record, I have never met anyone from another country or race who has tried to do this. Have you? Has anyone made you try to wear a niqab or attend a mosque against your will? I very much doubt it.

On the other hand, I think it is high time we take a firm stand towards those who have come to live here and are caught breaking the law or committing a crime: we should just simply deport them. Our jails are full to the brim and that is the only kind of message that will work as a deterrent.

However, the problem with the public discourse at the moment is that those who are shouting the loudest are the ones who are getting the most attention and it is difficult to filter through all the ‘noise’. I have also noticed that those with genuine concerns are afraid of being labelled as racist so they keep their mouths shut, but I think any person with a bit of common sense can tell the difference.

Obviously, there is no way that vicious, inexplicable hatred and inflammatory racism directed at others simply because they are ‘different’ or embrace a different culture is acceptable. I have often had to walk away from conversations because of the undisguised, absolute loathing with which some people speak about those of a different race. It is the kind of discourse which used to be prevalent in the deep South of the US in the 1950s, which is why it is so absolutely shocking for non-Maltese nationals to hear these sentiments being expressed so openly in the year 2015. I’m not saying that racism no longer exists in the States, of course it does, but it is kept carefully under wraps, because it is a social taboo.

Having said that, we cannot sweep things under the carpet either, and yes, there are aspects of what seems like an overnight influx of people from other lands, which can be worrying primarily because of the potential threats to our national security. In fact, in a report of a speech by Helena Dalli on Sunday it was stated that “Wearing the burqa may be banned as the government considers clarifying an existing law that prevents people from covering their faces in public.”

I think it is high time for people’s fears (of which there are many) to be addressed in a sensible way, and that can only be done by producing a quality TV programme, and inviting those who are capable of discussing this issue who can present their opposing views in a calm, coherent way, devoid of any theatrics. We need to talk about xenophobia openly and why it makes us so nervous to see those from a different culture setting up home here and making Malta “theirs”.

It is only by speaking about it rationally that any kind of headway can be made - otherwise we will only fan the flames which are steadily growing stronger because fears of being labelled ‘racist’ has pushed well-founded concerns underground.