Sue Arnold's Change of Heart

Sue Arnold is a highly-respected British journalist with liberal views. When I lived in the UK during the early '80s I, along with tens of thousands of others, was a devotee of her weekly column in The Observer. Although almost four decades have gone by, I still remember vividly the Sunday she sprang the news on an unsuspecting readership that she was virtually blind due to a genetic eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Occasionally she smoked cannabis. In 1997, she published an article  in the Observer revealing that she had smoked ‘skunk’ at a dinner party. Skunk is the most potent form of cannabis available, and Sue's eyesight had improved dramatically for the short period she was under its influence. Unfortunately for her, the joint also had an inebriating effect, rendering her ‘legless’ and almost unable to speak.          http://cdnedge.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/212301.stm

Not surprisingly, Arnold became a vociferous champion for the use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes, initially campaigning for research to be done to isolate the cannabinoid which gave her back her eyesight for those few precious minutes, from the rest of  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which produces the stoning effect. Eventually, she broadened the scope of her articulate support for a change in attitudes to the legalisation of cannabis for both therapeutic and recreational purposes.

As is well known, the British Government was, at the time, planning to downgrade cannabis from a Class B to a Class C drug (on the same level as steroids and sedatives). Initially this would have meant that personal use would no longer make one liable to prosecution. But the medical establishment and drug workers warned that the effect of this move would be an increase in drug use, with all the consequences this would entail. Stung by the strength of the reaction, the British Government had decided to go ahead with the downgrading, but continued to consider possession of cannabis illegal.

All those who had been following the debate about the decriminalisation of cannabis expected Sue Arnold to come out with a partial endorsement of the proposals to liberalise the law. But, on the 18th January 2004, Arnold wrote an article in the Observer announcing that she was no longer in favour of the use of cannabis. What had brought about the astounding change of heart was the damage cannabis had wreaked on something more precious to her than her own eyesight: the well-being of one of her sons.

Some years before, this young man had suffered a psychotic episode precipitated by the use of cannabis. He had spent six months in a psychiatric facility in England, and had been discharged on medication which, the family was told,  he would probably have to remain on for the rest of his life. Sue Arnold had seen for herself that those who warned about the serious ill-effects of cannabis were not simply reactionary killjoys bent on maintaining a repressive legal regime unnecessarily, but had very solid arguments to back up their stance http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2004/jan/18/drugsandalcohol.society

The belief that besides increasing the chances of contracting lung cancer and emphysema, cannabis use can be responsible for triggering psychosis in susceptible individuals has gained momentum. Researchers at Yale University have concluded that THC can produce a psychotic reaction. years ago, Dr. Robin Murray, a senior psychiatrist at Maudsley Hospital warned that smoking dope can greatly increase one’s chances of becoming mentally ill - and can also aggravate existing psychotic symptoms. The Psychiatric Times has reviewed the evidence and concluded that in regions cannabis becomes more accessible, cases of cannabis-induced psychosis are expected to increase: Cannabis-Induced Psychosis: A Review (psychiatrictimes.com).

How can we ever express our gratitude, Robert Abela? Owen Bonnici deserves a monument. Come next Republic Day, the cannabis lobby should be collectively decorated.

In Malta, the lobby for the relaxation of the laws regulating cannabis possession and use has won the day. Dope’s apparent and relative harmlessness, the difficulty to enforce the law (as evidenced by the widespread use of the drug among the young and not so young), and personal freedom are presented as arguments for its legalisation. But the inevitable rise in consumption of cannabis - when it becomes legal - and the dangers it poses to mental health, for at least a proportion of users, should have made us think twice before we let ourselves be convinced by the glib arguments of the ‘liberal’ lobby and the government's thirst for revenue - and votes.

At the very least, the government should take on the board the 53 NGOs' recommendations.

We do not have to go through Sue Arnold’s heartbreaking experience in order to realise what good sense dictates. Even at one second to midnight.

The British government has since reclassified cannabis as a class B drug.

Bernard u Emma u L-Abort. Imma anke Robert...

Jien membru ta l-grupp Abortion in Malta? Not in my Name!  M’iniex parti tal-amministrazzjoni, imma ili fih sa mill-bidu li twaqqaf. Nipprova nkun attiv kemm nista’. Dan li nqala’ dan l-aħħar ġegħelni nirrifletti. It-tħarbix jgħinni naħseb.

1. Meta sseħibt fih qatt u qatt ma immaġinajt li se jkun hemm fostna min se jsejħulu biex imur id-depot tal-Pulizija biex jagħti stqarrija fuq dak li kiteb fil-grupp. Imma ġraw ħafna affarijiet dan l-aħħar li qatt ma immaġinajna: żewġ anti-abortisti prominenti  qasmu x-xmara u kkampjaw ix-xatt l-ieħor, l-ex-PM li qabel l-2013 kien qalilna li hu kontra l-abort ftit xhur ilu qalilna li kkonverta u se jimpenja ruħu biex jiddaħħal f’Malta, il-PM li kien qalilna li jekk xi ħadd jipprova jdaħħal l-abort “isib lili kontrih’’ issa qed jgħid li hu favur diskussjoni u l-Kap il-ġdid tal-PN kważi malli tela’ qal li hu favur dibattitu (imbagħad benġilha li hu favur diskussjoni dwar kif ngħinu li-nisa tqal li għandhom id-diffikultà) approva l-kandidatura mal-partit ta’ persuna li hija apertament favur l-abort.

2. Fil-grupp kien hawn reazzjoni għal dawn l-avvenimenti kollha. L-aktar waħda qalila kienet għall-approvazzjoni ta’ Emma Portelli Bonnici mal-PN. Naħseb li kienet tnin ftit ftit bħal ma jiġri dejjem, li kieku Dr. Portelli Bonnici ma reġgħetx nefħet fuq il-ġamar billi marret u għamlet rapport lill-pulizija fuq qassis li, skont hi, kien uża kliem ta’ mibegħda fil-konfronti tagħħa fuq il-paġna tagħna. Ħafna ħaduha bi kbira (u mhux qed ngħid li għandhom raġun) li kandidata Nazzjonalista marret tirraporta qassis u l-biċċa l-kbira deher li kienu Nazzjonalisti pjuttost akkaniti, għalkemm mhux veru li kienu Nazzjonalisti biss.

3. Kien hemm din ir-reazzjoni qawwija għaliex – biex ma noqogħdux induru mal-lewża – ħafna minn dawk favur il-ħajja huma wkoll Nazzjonalisti. Hemm eluf ta’ Laburisti wkoll fost il-membri tal-grupp – u nies li daqqa jivvutaw naħa u daqqa oħra – imma l-biċċa l-kbira normalment jivvutaw lill-PN. Dawn assolutament ma ridux inniżżluha jirrappreżenta lill-Partit li huma jafuh li jitnebbaħ mill-valuri Nsara se jkun hemm min irid li l-liġi Maltija tippermetti l-qtil tal-ħajja umana fil-ġuf. Barra minn hekk, anke dawk li mhumiex marbuta mal-PN qed jirrealizzaw kemm huwa perikoluż li jkollok MP li, anke jekk il-partit ma jaqbilx, għandu s-setgħa li jintroduċi Private Members’ Bill u jekk isib appoġġ biżżejjed fil-kamra, f’temp ta’ ftit xhur insibu li l-qirda tal-ħajja fil-ġuf saret legali f’pajjiżna.

4. Ksaħna meta bdejna nisimgħu li xi nies mill-grupp (li jgħodd l-eluf kbar) kienu ssejħu d-depot. Waħħalna fir-rapport li Emma Portelli Bonnici kienet għamlet, imma wara ftit sirna nafu li hi kienet irrapurtat biss lil Fr. Andrew Borg. Il-pulizija, milli jidher, aġixxew ex-ufficio (jiġifieri minn jeddhom, mingħajr il-ħtieġa li jsir rapport) u, wara li qraw il-messaġġi f’ Abortion in Malta? Not in my name! sejħu madwar 40 (erbgħin!) ruħ. Uħud minn dawn  lanqas fejn sewwasew jiġi d-depot ma kienu jafu u għalkemm il-pulizija ttrattawhom tajjeb, l-esperjenza għal xi ftit kienet, tista’ tgħid, trawmatika.

5. Dan kollu – biex ngħidu kollox anke qabel ma l-membri tagħna ssejħu d-depot – naħsbu li daħħal lill-PN f’qoxortu. Bejn irrealizza li l-kandidatura ta’ persuna favur l-abort kienet se ttellef il-voti minflok, kif kien ħaseb Grech (forsi fuq parir tal-konsulenti) li se juri li l-partit huwa miftuħ anke għal ideat li sa ftit ilu kienu taboo assolut. L-interpretazzjoni ċinika hija li li għamlu kalkolu ta’ malajr u qiesu li se jitilfu aktar milli se jirbħu – u wara ftit Bernard Grech ħareġ jgħid li mhux sa jippermetti “li xi ħadd fil-Partit se ikun favur l-abort u jibqa’ fil- Partit, jew jibqa’ b’xi mod jirrapreżenta lill-Partit. M’hemmx post għal min mhux favur il-ħajja.’’ Daqqet ħelu f’widnejna. Mhux li smajnieha qabel, għidna – u fraħna. U minn fostna ħafna bdew jgħidu: Bernard Grech wera li hu ta’ prinċipju u ta’ stoffa, gwerrier li ma jibżax jieħu deċiżjonijiet ibsin imdawla mit-twemmin tal-partit li jmexxi.

6. Kienet ferħa bla temma. Instemgħet għajta ta’ ljun qalbieni li dwiet għal waqt wieħed kemm qajmet ġisem min semagħha xewk xewk, biex f’ħakka t’għajn l-iljun deher jirtira b’denbu bejn saqajh. Għandi viżjoni quddiem għajnejja (forsi żbaljata għal kollox) li l-consigliere kważi ġdid fjamant mar jiġri għandu il-Kap bir-reazzjoni tal-lobby tal-abortisti f’id waħda u l-calculator fl-oħra u wrieh li meta tqis kollox, aktarx ma jaqbilx li l-PN jżomm mal-prinċipju storiku u aħjar jekk jipproġetta x-xbiha tal-partit modern, cool u miftuħ għal kull żiffa, riħ jew riefnu jonfoħ min-naħa tas-suċċess elettorali – u kull ma jġibu magħhom. U mhux ħaġa kbira (jekk tassew ġara dak li stħajjilt) biex il-consigliere kważi ġdid fjamant , mogħmi bid-dawl jgħammex tal-ideat liberalissimi li jħaddan, għafas xi numru fil-calculator, jekk mhux tnejn, żbaljat. Għax hemm għadd ġmielu ta’ Nazzjonalisti, u oħrajn li kienu kważi ċerti li se jivvutaw lil Bernard & Co. li issa qegħdin jgħidu “Inżabbab mhux nivvota’’. U l-partiti l-ġodda li ma jistħux ixejru l-banner tal-ħajja jogħrku jdejhom.

7. L-amministraturi tal-grupp Abortion in Malta? Not in my name mill-ewwel daru ma’ dawk l-erbgħin ruħ li sfaw arrestati u lesti jipprovdulhom għajnuna legali –biċċa minnha ffinanzjata mill-membri tal-grupp – jekk il-pulizija jiddeċiedu li jipproċedu kontrihom. Esperjenza kerha, imma probabbli hija sinjal ta’ dak li hemm jisteniena fix-xhur u s-snin li ġejjin. Il-ġlieda se tiħrax hekk kif aktar nies qegħdin jinħakmu mill-kurrenti hekk-imsejħa liberali u jħaddnu t-twemmin suppost progressiv tal-jien-hu-alla-sidi. Qed ngħixu f’dinja fejn il-partit politiċi lesti jagħmlu l-kompromessi għall-voti – u fejn il-pressjoni minn barra minn Malta timbotta kontinwament għall-bidla fid-direzzjoni tas-sodifazzjon tal-istinti u għala bieb għajni mill-konsegwenzi.

8. Il-ħruxija tal-ġlieda m’għandha qatt taqtagħlna qalbna imma lanqas m’għandha twebbishielna tant li naraw lill-“avversarji’’ bħala xjaten. Hemm min qed jaqbeż il-linji u jwaddab l-insulti bl-addoċċ. Mhux dejjem qed issir id-differenza bejn l-argument favur l-abort (li hu mnellaħ mill-qalba u mnawwar mill-għeruq) u min jagħmel l-abort jew qed jiġġieled biex isir legali (li huma bnedmin bħalna, xbiha t’Alla għal min jemmen). Niġġieldu l-argument b’ħiltna kollha, imma lill-avversarji, bħala bnedmin, irridu nirrispettawhom.

Anke għal min jiġi jaqa’ u jqum mill-aspett “morali’, hemm liġi li tgħid li ċertu lingwaġġ ma jistax jintuża. Ma rridux ripetizzjoni talli ġara (anke jekk il-Pulizija esaġeraw bil-kbir meta sejħu d-Depot nies fuq kummenti tassew innoċenti). U jekk lanqas dan l-argument mhu konvinċenti biżżejjed, tajjeb niftakru li ma jaqbilx li lil dawk ta’ favur l-abort nagħtuhom iċ-ċans jilagħbuha tal-vittmi msawta bil-kitba ta’ “dawk ta’ favur il-ħajja’’. 

9. Aħna rridu nkunu moħħna hemm u ma ninsewx għal sekonda x’inhu l-aktar importanti. Bħalissa qed nisimgħu ħafna kliem sabiħ mill-membri tal-grupp favur il-prinċipji li nħaddnu, imma, kif toqrob l-elezzjoni, id-deni jibda jaħkem sew u, bl-iskuża li l-avversarji politiċi ma jixirqilhomx ikunu fil-Gvern, malajr ninsew li l-ħajja tiġi l-ewwel u qabel kollox u nċedu għat-tentazzjoni li nivvutaw skont il-passjoni politika u mhux skont il-prinċipji u l-valuri li nħaddnu u nippridkaw.

10. F’dawn l-aħħar jiem, bir-raġun kollu, il-ħarsa tagħna kienet fuq il-PN u Emma Portelli Bonnici. Fil-PN hemm nies prominenti oħra li huma wkoll favur l-abort (Martina Caruana, Jamie Vella). Ma jawgura tajjeb xejn għall-futur. Imma ma naħsbux li t-theddid għall-ħajja umana ġej minn hemm biss. Imċappas bl-aħmar ukoll; fil-PL hemm individwi mlaħħqa li huma favur l-abort: Cyrus Engerer u Alfred Sant, pereżemju. Imma hemm oħrajn li 99% huma wkoll tal-qatgħa ta’ Emma Portelli Bonnici, Jamie Vella, Martina Caruana eċċ. Pereżempju Rosianne Cutajar.  U l-enfasi fuq ''id-drittijiet riproduttivi'' (ħafna drabi ewfemiżmu għall-abort) jagħtuk x'tifhem li hemm oħrajn....

U l-iktar li għandhom ibeżżgħuna mhumiex dawk li (bejn wieħed u ieħor) jitkellmu fil-miftuħ, daqskemm dawk li ma jitkellmu qatt fuq l-abort imma jekk kellu jkun hemm vot fil-Parlament lesti mhumiex lesti jisfidaw il-whip, avolja din suppost hija kwistjoni fundamentali ta’ kuxjenza. Il-pożizzjoni tal-partit - kif rajna mill-kwistjonijiet fuq iż-żwieġ gay u l-addozzjonijiet minn koppji omosesswali - wara l-elezzjoni taf tinbidel inkiss inkiss u ħesrem.

Se jkollna għalxiex u ma' xiex nissieltu. Moħħna hemm.

 

Ħsibijiet Feġġejja

       1.      Malta: ġenna tal-art imnejka. U mhux Joseph Muscat biss niekha.

2.      Joseph Muscat: inkarnazzjoni ta’ Dr. Faustus - biegħ ruħu lix-xitan għall-poter u l-popolarità.

3.      Joseph Muscat: egrant tentattiv ta’ frame-up fuqu – 99.9%

4.      Joseph Muscat: ma kellu x’jaqsam xejn mal-mewt ta’ Daphne

5.      Joseph Muscat: għamel ġid, imma probabbli l-agħar Prim Ministru ta’ Malta.

6.      Joseph Muscat: Għax ma jparparx lejn xi galassja oħra?

7.      Edward Zammit Lewis: imissu jwarrab. Wiċċu u u sormu xorta.

8.      Rosianne Cutajar: imissha twarrab. Wiċċha u sormha xorta. Kont se ngħid li t-tnejn isbaħ minn ta’ Zammit Lewis, imma aħjar le.

9.      Kirsty Debono: ha proprio culo (metaforikament). Laħqet bidlet l-alleanza għax kieku Repubblika et al sallbuha.

10. Repubblika: għanijiet sublimi, imma l-mibegħda ċċajpar għemilhom.

11. The Shift News: il-veri eredi ta’ Daphne, imma l-mibegħda ċċajpar kitbiethom.

12. Occupy Justice: bejn Repubblika u The Shift News, nippreferi 'l Occupy Justice.

13. Daphne: Kull ġurnata li tgħaddi niskopri kemm kellha raġun fuq il-korruzzjoni u kif taħdem.

14. Daphne: kittieba sublimi, investiġtraċi straordinarja, antropologa m’hawnx bħalha.

15. Daphne: kellha difetti serji, imma ħaqqha monument.

16. Daphne: Il-familja tagħha terrqet fid-dulur u immaturat. Li laqgħu l-apoloġija ta’ Robert Abela sinjal eċċellenti.

17. Daphne: il-pass li jmiss hu li l-familja issa tiltaqa’ mal-President.

18. Jason Azzopardi: għandu kuraġġ ta’ ljun. Nixtieq ngħid affarijiet tajba oħra fuqu imma ma nistax insib.

19. Il-PN: farsa tbikkik.

20. Il-PN: kieku kien bniedem konna niċċertifikawh għal Monte Karmeli – tendenzi suwiċidali serji u akuti

21. Bernard Grech: Jidher inkapaċi, imma min, ħlief xi Eddie Fenech Adami, isib tarf f’dak it-taħwid?

22. Bernard Grech: biex imexxi l-PN jeħtieġ l-għerf ta’ Salamun, il-kuraġġ ta’ David, is-saħħa ta’ Sansun u l-fortuna ta’ Ġakobb. Minflok qisu l-poplu Lhudi jdur u jagħqad fid-deżert.

23. Bernard Grech: qisu jien meta kont nipprova ntellaq. Jaf li se jispiċċa l-aħħar, imma jibqa’ għaddej joħlom bil-mirakli.

24.  Adrian Delia: la vendetta è un piatto che va servito freddo.

25. Eddie Fenech Adami:  perfett ma kienx, imma Joseph Muscat ikkonfermalna li kien l-aqwa PM ta’ Malta

26. Eddie Fenech Adami: għandu xi neputi jixbhu? Il-PN għandu bżonnu bħall-ħobż.

27. Eddie Fenech Adami: Jekk tassew għandu d-demenzja, mhi xejn ħlief turija oħra tal-ħniena bla tarf t’Alla.

28. Lawrence Gonzi: kultant inħoss in-nuqqas tal-kalma rassikuranti li kien jaf jittrażmetti.

29. Karmenu Mifsud-Bonnici: qatt kellna politiku personalment integru aktar minnu?

30. Manuel Delia: the queen-maker?

31.  Roberta Metsola: taf tgħodd sal-għaxra...u anke ħdax.

32.  Roberta Metsola: kontra l-legalizzazzjoni tal-abort dejjem u f’kull każ?

33.  Robert Abela: għadu lest li jekk iqum xi ħadd f il-PL b’inizjattivi favur l-abort, “isib lili kontra tiegħu’’? Għax fil-każ se jkollu jippoppa sidru ta’ sikwit...

34. Robert Abela: imma dakinhar x’fettillu jistqarr li jħossu mkisser eċċ? F’konferenza stampa kien mhux fil-klinika tal-psikoterapista.

35. Robert Abela: Kemm-il darba waqa’ fil-politika rħisa ta’ kummenti li jaqtgħu fuq l-oppożizzjoni. Statista ma jinħeliex f’dawn l-affarijiet.

36. Robert Abela: ħaqqu prosit tal-apoloġija, anke jekk prevedibilment qanqlet reazzjoni fil-PL. Anzi, minħabba f’hekk, prosit doppju.

37.  Robert Abela: Meta se jagħmel dmiru u jneħħi lil Zammit Lewis minn Ministru?

38.  Robert Abela: mill-ewwel sab l-iebes – il-Covid, il-mewt ta’ Miriam Pace eċċ. S’issa, bħala PM ġaħġaħha, imma mhux li bbrilla wisq.

39.  Alfred Sant: Talli ċċivilizza lill-MLP u qaċċat lill-vjolenti, kapaċi naħfirlu anke tal-abort, kważi. Imma kważi biss.

40.  Alfred Sant: Il-patti max-xitan fil-politika moda li daħħalha hu?

41. Il-PL: fis-snin 70 u 80, kien soċjalista imma mhux demokratiku. Illum liberali roża ċar.

42.  Desmond Zammit Marmarà: alkoħol rari nixrob, imma jekk niltaqa’ miegħu lest inħallaslu birra, tnejn u anke tlieta.

43.  Desmond Zammit Marmarà: jistħoqqlu monument il-kwartieri tal-PL, avolja hemm min jixtieq jarmalu forka.

44.  Arnold Cassola: jindaħal f’kollox,  jikkummenta fuq kollox, imma ħafna drabi allaħares ma jkunx hu.

45.  Simon Mercieca: għadni ma nistax niddeċiedi jekk għandux Alla għalih, jew hux  qiegħed jgħaddi ż-żmien bin-nies u bih innifsu.

46. Graffiti: iqanqlu fija ambivalenza bla tarf. L-ambjent u l-abort - Alla u x-xitan, in-nar u l-ilma.

47.  Fr. David Muscat: tassew intelliġenti, fidi qawwija – imbagħad imur jingħaqad mal-lemin razzista u anti-semita!

48.  Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca: bħala Ministru ġieli ndaħlet fejn ma jesagħhiex. Illum imissha titkellem aktar fuq il-kwistjonijiet kontroversjali.

49.  Ġorġ Abela: ħasra li ibnu l-PM, għax fehemtu fuq kwistjonijiet soċjo-politiċi kienet tiswa ħafna.

50.  Jien: Nixtieq li qabel immut il-kuxjenza tħallini nerġa’ nivvota lil-Labour.

Ġaħan fil-Klassi

Ftit kienu dawk li rnexxielhom jirreżistu t-tentazzjoni li jiżżuffjettaw, jiddieħku, jew jiċċajtaw bil-‘’ġaħan’’ ta’ Edward Zammit Lewis. Jien bħal kważi kulħadd għamilt. Meta okkażjoni ta’ satira bħal din tidher quddiemek fuq platt tad-deheb mhux dejjem faċli jkollok is-sinsla li taqdef kontra l-kurrent u tirrifletti sew fuq l-implikazzjonijiet kollha tal-biċċa qabel tibda tfajjar l-istatuses fuq Facebook.

Imma f’xi ħin is-sens jew il-kuxjenza jew ma nafx xiex jaqbdek minn xagħrek b’ġibda iktar qawwija minn ta’ Chiellini fuq Saka u jkollok tieqaf ħesrem u tħaddem in-newroni. Imbagħad tara dak li, kieku kont onest daqs kemm tħobb timmaġina li int,  missek intbaħt bih żmien qabel.

Edward Zammit Lewis  - x’għarukaża, imissu jistħi, ara veru Laburist trid tkun  - għajjar lil dawk li ma vvutawlux “ġaħan’’, u lil sħabu li sabu ruħhom fil-Parlament imbagħad fil-Kabinett ‘’tfal u pożi’’. Ma kienx messaġġ fiċ-chat ma’ Yorgen Fenech! Il-midja soċali xegħlu.

Bosta skandalizzaw ruħhom bil-lingwaġġ insolenti fuq ħutu fil-politika, li, msieken, saru vittmi bla ħila innoċenti ta’ politiku egoċentriku u nieqes minn kull ħjiel ta’ diċenza. Oħrajn għoġobhom jagħfsu fuq kemm kellhom raġun jgħidu, jtennu u jtelltu li l-votanti Laburisti iġħna/ġħanan li ma jitgħallmu b’xejn għax moħħ m’għandhomx, qatt ma kellhom u ma jistax ikollhom – u li Malta bla tama u rasha ‘l isfel għat-telfien.

Ngħidha mill-ewwel li l-imġiba ġenerali u partikulari ta’ Zammit Lewis fil-konfront ta’ Yorgen Fenech hija tat-tqalligħ – minn diversi punti di vista. Mhix denja ta’ politiku serju u jmissu jirriżenja llum qabel għada. Ma nistax nifhem kif Robert Abela għadu ma tahx daqqa ta’ sieq fuq sormu u qalftu ‘l barra. Veru li min jaf kemm kien hemm politiċi oħra (inklużi tal-PN) li lagħqu lin-negozjanti huma wkoll (għal xi sponsorship ta’ xi attività jew xi pellegrinaġġ), imma ladarba nkixef jilgħaq bla mistħija lil negozjant sid ta’ kumpanija b’dell ta’ korruzzjoni fuqha ma jistax jibqa’ Ministru.  Sostanzjalment nappoġġja l-kampanja ta’ Repubblika (li mhix għaqda li nammira wisq) li tridu jwarrab jew jitwarrab.

Però, fuq il-biċċa ta’ "ġaħan’’ ta’ min ifettaq naqra. Il-"ġaħan Laburist'' ħarbex Zammit Lewis. 

X’ikun ''ġaħan’’ f’dan il-kuntest? Mill-bqija tal-kitba ta’ Zammit Lewis donnu jidher li ‘’ġaħan’’ ikun dak li mhux kapaċi jagħraf kandidat intelliġenti u maqtugħ għall-politika, imma jivvota lil individwi anke inferjuri skont jekk ikunux qdewh jew le. Naturalment Zammit Lewis kien qiegħed jipprova jispjega lilu nnifsu – u lil sieħbu li tant jammira – għaliex hu fl-2017 tela’ biss fl-elezzjoni każwali u tilef Ministeru. U għajjar lil-votanti li ma ftakrux fih ''ġaħan’’.

Tgħid Zammit Lewis l-uniku politiku fl-istorja li fil-privat waħħal fin-nuqqas ta’ kapaċità intellettwali u morali tal-votant biex jispjega għaliex mar ħażin fl-elezzjoni jew baqa’ l-art? Għax din l-ispjegazzjoni (m’iniex se ngħidilha skuża għax issib element ta’ verita fiha) xbajt nismagħha fin-nofs seklu li ili interessat fil-politika. Bħalissa qed naħseb fuq xi tużżana politiċi li ntqal hekk fuq is-sitwazzjoni tagħhom meta marru ħażin. Niftakar li Ġorġ Hyzler tal-PN fl-1987, Alla jaħfirlu. Tela’ bi sbrixx. Imbagħad – kien Segretarju Parlamentari għas-Saħħa, jekk niftakar sew - bena Poliklinika Ħal-Qormi, il-qalba tad-distrett elettorali, u fl-elezzjoni ta’ wara tela’ sparat. Biex ma nsemmix lill-mibki Pawlu Xuereb. U lil Louis Galea. U oħrajn.

Naturalment ħadd minnhom ma kien magħruf li għajjar lill-votanti ‘’ġaħan’’. Imma l-kanvassers u l-ħbieb tagħhom bejn wieħed u ieħor l-istess bħal Zammit Lewis kienu jgħidu. U ma kinux jeżistu chats dak iż-żmien. Zammit Lewis lagħaqi. Imma xortih ħażina wkoll.

Ironikament dak li qed jgħid Zammit Lewis u li xeba’ jaqla’ fuq rasu minħabba fih, huwa eżatt dak li qed jgħidu - u ilhom - ħafna sostenituri tal-PN u tas-Soċjeta Ċivili fuq il-votanti Maltin li jivvutaw lill-PL. Kważi kważi li huma speċje inferjuri li tivvota skont min jaqdiha u tinsa l-ordni morali u estetiku – jew jiġu għala bieb għajnhom minnu. Spjegazzjoni komda għal kulħadd. Imma jekk tinqabad tgħidha meta tkun kandidat, ħoll xagħrek. U ġib kusejn jew tlieta żejt.

Dawk il-‘’ġaħan’’ li llum jivvutaw lill-PL (u għada se jerġgħu), bil-fors li ħafna minnhom kienu darba jappoġġjaw lill-PN, għax kieku dan ma kienx idum fil-Gvern kwart ta’ seklu. Kif spiċċaw mal-PL u mhux lesti li jiċċaqalqu? X’kien dak li ''ġaħħanhom’’? Jew kienu “ġaħan” diġà meta kienu mal-PN?

Bħalissa l-PN jidher li riesaq lejn it-tielet tkaxkira in fila. Bernard Grech qed jagħmel minn kollox biex barra li "isalva lil Malta’’, forsi, b’xi miraklu, jillimita t-telfa għal inqas minn 25,000 u jsalva ġildu - jew għall-anqas wiċċu.  Biex jagħmel hekk għandu bżonn li jattira lejn il-PN ftit eluf li l-aħħar elezzjoni vvutaw lill-PL. Imma bl-istħarriġ konsistentement juri li l-PL se jirbaħ b’mill-inqas kemm rebaħ fl-2013 u l-2017, jidher li l-‘’ġaħan’’ se jibqa’ d-dar u mhux se joħroġ, jiġbed il-bieb warajh u jaqsam it-triq għal għand il-PN.

Naturalment, il-PN dejjem jista’ jikkuntenta bil-kwalità tal-votanti, jekk mhux bil-kwantità. Jew forsi, is-sostenituri l-aktar voċiferi tiegħu jistgħu jwarrbu r-retorika klassista, jigdmu lsienhom u juru ftit aktar rispett lejn il-votanti Laburisti. Inqas ma jtellgħu ħitan klassisti, iktar ikun hemm ċans li tlieta ma jsirux erbgħa.

Breathing Easier in May?

Robert Abela received a lot of stick for his statement that Malta would return to quasi-normal life by May. I shared the general scoffing scepticism - until I actually sat down, thought about it and looked at the figures.

The disbelief seems to have been generated on the basis of the mistaken assumption that quasi-normal socio-economic activity could only resume once herd immunity was achieved. Were that the case we could not contemplate opening up before we would have inoculated at least 70% of the population (if not 80% or even more given the high transmissibility of Covid-19 powered by the new variants). Government estimates it will take till the end of Summer for the lower figure to be reached.

But do we have to aim for herd immunity to ease restrictions and open up the economy? Currently there have been some 270 deaths in Malta associated with the virus. Virtually all of them have involved older individuals. One would be hard-pressed to find anyone under sixty years of age who succumbed to any condition  within four weeks of having contracted the virus. While there can never be anything approaching a cast-iron guarantee that nobody under sixty who is not seriously ill with some other condition will not die through Covid-related illnesses, the chances that people in their 50s or younger will die while infected with Sars-COV-2  appear to be slim indeed.

It appears that all vulnerable people which would include all those above, say, the age of 55, medical and other front-liners (including teachers) and all those suffering from certain conditions could be vaccinated within a few months. The first Pfizer vaccines were administered on thee 27th December 2020. From that day till the end of May 2021, 156 days will have passed. Based on what appears to be a realistic average vaccination rate of 2500 individuals per day - and assuming the administration of 2 doses per person – in just over 5 months 195,000 people would have been fully inoculated. Assuming the residents of Malta number 500,000, that would cover the 34% of the population comprising people aged 55 and upwards (Source: IndexMundi Malta Demographics), and the estimated 25,000 front-liners and other vulnerable individuals. If the vaccination rate picks up even more consistently (as many are expecting it to do) the target could be achieved before the end of May. 

Warily easing restrictions in place at the moment - thus giving a much-needed boost to the economy - could be an option for the country to consider. Obviously, one should not be envisaging a situation where all protective measures are terminated - far from it. Although mortality from Covid would not be a big problem, the dangers of people contracting Covid, not succumbing to it, but suffering long-term health consequences will have to be considered. Hence a strong dose of prudence will still be essential if health is to be safeguarded.

This scenario depends on the ready availability of vaccines. It also does not take into account the establishment of variants of the virus not susceptible to some or all of the vaccines nor other unforeseeable factors which could determine conditions hitherto unknown. However, as things can be viewed now, Malta’s economy and social life could take a turn for the better in as little as less than four months from now.

Mill-Qiegħ għas-Sħab

Qalli kemm-il darba, b’dik il-ħarsa tikka mistħija, imma aktar imqarqċa, li l-ewwel darba jew darbtejn li rani fuq it-television nitkellem fuq l-alkoħol tgħidx kemm offendieni bil-qalb. Kliemi fuq l-alkoħoliżmu kien iżarżar f’widnejh u biex ipattihieli talli ażżardajt ninsultalu d-drawwa li jixrob sakemm jieħdu sew – jekk ma jiskirx – kien jibgħatni nieħdu bl-ikbar devozzjoni, fost baraxx ta’ insulti oħra li nagħmel sew jekk ma niktibhomx. Naturalment kien ikun imlaħlaħ u allura ilsienu kien jitilqu aktar mis-soltu...

Dak iż-żmien kien fuq tiegħu, ibigħ is-saħħa u “kiesaħ daqsi ma kienx hawn’’ għadu jħobb jgħid. Għalkemm flixkun whisky f’erba’, ħames sigħat ġieli niżżlu – u tliet kwarti ta’ flixkun kienet ħaġa ta’ kull għaxija preċett – l-għada kien iqum għax-xogħol qisu mhux hu. Kien jaħdem f’birrerija imma, ħlief għal żmien qasir f’żgħożitu, qatt ma xorob birra u qatt ma xorob qabel ma kien jasal id-dar wara x-xogħol. Għax ma kienx jixrob filgħodu – u għax ix-xorb dam ma beda jkiddlu saħħtu – seta’ jkompli jgħaddi ż-żmien bih innifsu u jagħmel tabirruħu li kontroll kellu.

Kien beda jixrob ta’ xi 15-il sena biex irabbi l-kuraġġ u jitla’ fuq il-palk ikanta. Il-kuraġġ kien jiġi u t-togħma u s-sensazzjoni li kien jagħtih ix-xorb – ta’ ħelsien mill-ansjetà u ta’ fiduċja artifiċjali fih innifsu – għoġbuh u beda jixrob aktar ta’ spiss. Żid mal-kawlata t-tendenza lejn id-dipendenza li n-natura tkun tatek b’wirt u tinsiex tħawwar bl-idea, bħal ma għandhom ħafna, li x-xorb bil-goff huwa sinjal ta’ rġulija, ta’ kemm int ‘bully’. Għandek ir-riċetta perfetta tal-alkoħoliżmu. Rari tfalli...

Jekk hu kien jiġi jaqa’ u jqum mill-konsegwenzi tax-xorb – għax ma kienx jarahom – mhux l-istess il-familja tiegħu. Martu bejn għax kienet tinkwieta għalih u bejn għax kienet iddejqet bl-imġiba tiegħu kienet tiġġieled miegħu fuq l-alkoħol. Imbagħad, bdiet tfittex l-għajnuna tal-aġenziji speċjalizzati. Imma kollu ta’ xejn – jew għall-inqas, hekk deher għall-bidu.

Jekk hemm espressjoni li fir-rakkonti personali tal-alkoħoliċi tissemma spiss hija ''missejt il-qiegħ'', il-famuża ''rock bottom'' – meta tkun inżilt ‘l isfel tant li ma tistax tinżel aktar għax taħtek m’hemm xejn ħlief blat samm. Titlissen tant spiss għax hija parti mill-esperjenza ta’ kważi kull alkoħoliku li qatt kien hawn. Tfisser li tant hi kbira r-rabta max-xorb li tgħaddi mill-esperjenzi l-aktar koroh għal darba, darbtejn, tlieta u xorta waħda tibqa’ ddur mal-mogħdijiet imserrpa ta’ moħħok tħuf u tissajja sakemm issib imqar skuża waħda biex tkompli tixrob. Il-qiegħ issibu meta imbagħad tant titkisser li ma tkunx tista’ tigdeb aktar lilek innifsek. Żmien iebes ħafna – imma opportunità tad-deheb.

Meta jitkellem fuq il-ħajja tax-xorb tiegħu, Emanuel Spiteri ta’ sikwit isostni li kien biss meta assolutament ma setax ikompli jixrob għax ix-xorb kien "ħadli kollox’’ li rrealizza li kellu bżonn jagħmel xi ħaġa. U meta tagħfsu biex ifiehmek sewwasew x’irid ifisser, jgħidlek, b’sinċerità hekk sfiqa li tħallik mistagħġeb, li filli kien iħossu li ma jista’ għalih xejn u ħadd u filli saħħtu spiċċat għal kollox. Mar għand it-tabiba biex tagħmillu ċertifikat għax-xogħol u din qaltlu li ma kienet se tagħmillu xejn għax tliet ġimgħat ħajja kien għad fadallu jekk se jkompli jixrob. 

“U kien baqagħli tmien liri biss’’ ikompli. Daħal f’qoxortu, jew aħjar, kontra qalbu ċ-ċirkostanzi kebbewh fiha u geżwruh sew. Did-darba kien hu li talab għall-għajnuna.

Ta’ kważi ħamsa u ħamsin sena s-sedqa daħħlitu Dar l-Impenn għad-diżintossikazzjoni u wara aċċetta li jidħol Dar iż-Żerniq għal programm ta’ sena. Kien sar magħlub qisu għuda, imma fi ftit ġimgħat ġie f’tiegħu. Il-programm iffurmah għax ġagħlu jmur kontra tiegħu nnifsu u jrażżan ix-xewqat tiegħu. Ma kienx faċli għalih u iktar minn darba kien se jaqbad il-bieb u jitlaq meta deherlu li r-regolamenti kienu bla raġuni. Imma kellu melħ biżżejjed f’moħħu biex jintebaħ li jekk ma jibqax fil-programm kien jerġa’ jibqa jixrob u jistieden il-gwaj. Allura għeleb it-tentazzjoni u baqa’ sal-aħħar.

Kien waqt il-programm li minn taħt il-qoxra beda jfeġġ il-veru Emanuel - dak li x-xorb kien satar u kważi keffen. Rajna bniedem li beda jsir kapaċi li jifli għemilu u jgħarblu, jammetti ħtijietu l-iżbalji tiegħu u jagħmel l-almu tiegħu biex jinbidel. Anke meta spiċċa l-programm baqa’ jieħu l-affarijiet bis-serjetà, anzi naħseb li iktar ma għadda ż-żmien aktar daħal fil-fond tar-rabta bejn l-alkoħol u l-imġiba tiegħu u beda jintebaħ li min tassew irid jibqa’ jtejjeb ħajtu irid imur lil hinn milli biss ma jmissx ix-xorb (għalkemm mingħajr dak il-pass ma jsir xejn) imma jrid jistinka biex isib dak li hu tassew importanti fil-ħajja.

Huwa fuq dan il-livell spiritwali li l-aktar li nbidel Emanuel. Is-sobriety tiegħu kienet l-iskop li ried jilħaq meta sab ruħu kważi mitħun mix-xorb. Meta laħaq dak l-istat dawru f’biċċa għodda biex jasal f’livelli ogħla ta’ eżistenza. U biex iċ-ċirku jingħalaq, għax jgħix f’dawk il-livelli, mhux faċli ħafna (għalkemm qatt ma nistgħu ngħidu impossibbli) li jerġa’ lura għall-ħajja ta’ qabel.

Emanuel huwa minn dawk l-individwi li għandhom dak li tista’ ssejjaħlu d-don tal-preżenza: ikunu fejn ikunu tinnutahom, iħallu l-marka u l-attenzjoni ddur magħhom. Ilsienu jaqilgħu u proprju għax jinqala’ biex jikkomunika ma’ udjenza, mar kemm-il darba fuq it-television u qal l-istorja tiegħu. Jien u hu mhux l-ewwel darba li morna fuq xi programm tat-television u l-preżentaturi lili (is-suppost espert) kważi insewni tant issaħħru bil-mod kif jikkomunika Emanuel. U għamlu sew: daqskemm jista’ jwassal il-messaġġ alkoħoliku wieqaf li ħadem fuqu nnifsu, ma jista’ jwasslu l-ebda ''espert’’.

Illum infakkru l-għoxrin sena sewwa minn meta Emanuel waqaf jixrob u beda l-mixja li wasslitu fejn hu llum. Ma kinitx triq faċli: daq mill-ħelu imma anke mill-morr li tagħti l-ħajja. Imma llum, b’riħet dik it-tisbita li wasslitu biex imiss il-qiegħ, wasal fejn qatt ma ħolom li seta’ jasal f’dak li hu progress spiritwali u rispett li jgawdi minn kull min jafu.

Nota: Żidt l-isem u l-kunjom ta' Emanuel Spiteri wara li hu talabni nagħmel hekk.

Death by Expertise?

She contemplates the big wide world through eyes of the deepest dark blue, her perfectly-formed coral lips curled in an endearingly mischievous smile. Her cheeks, rosy like the first flush of a red dawn, contrast sharply with the milk-white skin of the rest of her face, offset on top by the soft, dark down on top of her head, now long enough, at 12 weeks, to cover her ears. No amount of the inevitable “Kemm hi ħelwa”s can ever do justice to the joyful beauty she radiates. She is the picture of health, a captivating paean to love’s creative forces and prodding proof that God must exist.

She might never have been born. The experts, two teams of the most eminent actually, from hospitals on both sides of the Atlantic no less, counselled the parents to have the pregnancy terminated because of “an increased risk of foetal or perinatal death and a major concern for long-term neurodevelopment”. 

The problems had started four months into what had been, until then, an uneventful pregnancy. A routine ultra-sound scan had revealed a 6cm mark in the baby’s head, possibly indicative of hydrocephalus or something even more sinister.  Further tests, including a foetal MRI could not quite reveal what, and indeed if anything was actually, wrong. So the Consultant obstetrician decided to seek advice from abroad. All test–results and notes of the clinical observation were sent to a renowned UK hospital. Meanwhile, a Maltese consultant radiologist together with a Maltese consultant neurologist hypothesised that the cyst was simply the result of spontaneous bleeding.

The parents, waiting for the foreign experts’ pronouncement with bated breath, finally received the news: there was probably no brain in the foetus, and in the circumstances the learned doctors could only advise an abortion. The local Consultant then opted for a third opinion, and all the clinical material was dispatched post-haste to the USA. After a couple of weeks, the gist of the communication from across the Atlantic was a confirmation of the UK decree: we’re unsure of diagnosis, but in view of grave risk of death or grave disability, termination is recommended. 

Shaken, shocked and bewildered they certainly were, but not for one nanosecond did the parents countenance the possibility of doing away with the baby’s life. With two sets of experts practically telling them their baby was destined to be born very severely impaired, some parents would have given in to the temptation to board the next plane and have the foetus aborted as soon as possible. Not these two. Staunch in their Christian faith and in the belief in the value of all life, and steadfast in their feelings towards the fruit of their love, they vowed they would face the future - and whatever it brought with it.  As far as they were concerned, the fact that the baby was likely to be born with a most severe impairment did not diminish her worth by one iota. 

In the event, the baby was born by Caesarean section  – and it was immediately apparent that there was nothing wrong with her. At twelve weeks she exhibits perfectly normal behaviour, and according to her parents, actually seems to be developmentally slightly ahead of her siblings. Another MRI has confirmed the hypothesis that had been developed by the Maltese consultants .... and that the cyst is getting smaller. 

So, these experts were wrong, and not only in their interpretation of the clinical evidence, which, after all was the result of all too fallible human judgement in exceptionally difficult circumstances. They were wrong to advise termination. Not just because the girl turned out to be perfectly healthy. Had she been born as disabled as everybody had feared she would be, they would still have been very wrong. 

For, as even the anguished parents-to-be realised during the darkest moments when the future seemed to be holding in store an infinity of sweat, pain and tears, a human being’s essential worth does not depend on its organs ... or the lack of them. The shape, or even the presence of limbs, is neither here nor there, when it comes to assessing human value. Intelligence per se has nothing to do with the intrinsic worth of human life. It is purely and simply the fact that a foetus is, that the spark of life has been lit in him or her, that renders that human creature awesomely, supremely and loveably precious. No other considerations, be they physical, emotional, psycho-social or economic can ever supersede the primacy of human life, at whatever stage of development it is. 

Those foreign experts, their science informed by values central to a culture which prioritises health and psycho-social and economic well-being over life itself, had no qualms advocating the suffocation of human life in order to spare the parents and the yet-to-be-born serious problems. In contrast, other medical professionals showed a commendable commitment to the life they were caring for, besides giving proof of their own professional expertise.  In societies where death is deemed preferable to suffering, where decades of acceptance of abortion have blunted intellects and emotions to the implications of error in matters of foetal killing, too many experts have little problem coolly decreeing that a foetus may die so that suffering and discomfort can be avoided.  God may have been banished from those kingdoms, but there’s someone else sitting on His lofty throne.

Those who believe that it is acceptable to sanction abortion on the say-so of experts in cases of supposed grave disability on the part of the foetus had better think again. Not only do they have no right to abort children-in–the-womb even if the foetus is truly disabled, they may actually be cutting short healthy human lives.

Expert advice is worthy of the highest consideration. Infallible, however, it is not.

Update: this article was written some 15 years ago. The girl in question continues to remain in perfect health, and is described as a lively teenager who leads a very active life.