The Maltese media has recently been inundated with news of a mob of people egging on someone to jump off the Valletta bastions. An opinion piece previously published on this site posits that the onlookers’ behaviour, is a result of a wider build-up of causes. The author goes on to point out some of this catastrophic cacophony that’s causing the widely dubbed ‘moral collapse’; a media-saturated with imagery of death and gore, most of which remains fantastical in the eyes of those who have never encountered it, and a country with low unemployment rates, a relatively conventional life, yet riddled with blatant corruption by people in government.

While this viewpoint might have some truth to it, the more likely answer to this unfortunate situation is a rather simple one: the cruel, heartless people that encouraged a person – who may have had a family, people that loved him, people that he loved – are simply that: cruel and heartless people.

Which begs the question: why had they done this? Why is it that some people not only enjoy seeing someone in turmoil but revel in it – to the point that they want to see such a terrible act be done in front of them. This is the part where this small instance of inhumanity correlates to the state our country has been in for a few years.

“When you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect”   

Mark Twain 

The degradation of this country’s morals has been ongoing for years now – and this hasn’t happened because we wanted it to. But it has happened because we let it. Once we let our politicians get away with their scandals and blatant lies and empty promises, the morals of this country have taken a hit. Because from that point on, it was a steep, slippery slope. And we now find ourselves in the depths of a crevice. The public sees prominent political figures get away with such vile actions, so they tend to reflect it themselves.

Over the years, Malta’s political environment has been turbulent, to say the least. Blatant corruption in government, money laundering schemes, companies and shell companies shifting money between themselves and to politicians who are still currently in power, the murder of a journalist who happened to put a little too much pressure on the wrong people: these are just a handful of things that come to mind when the word “Malta” comes to mind.

“If people crowd together and form a mob, then the dynamism of the collective man are let loose – beasts or demons that lie dormant in every person until he is part of a mob. Man in the mass sinks unconsciously to an inferior moral and intellectual level, to that level which is always there, below the threshold of consciousness, ready to break forth as soon as it is activated by the formation of a mass.”

Carl Jung

These all stem from a societal problem rather than a political one: Why have we let them do all this, with very little – if not none at all – consequences? Has our entire population become this incompetent of seeing things as they truly are? Is society as complacent and blind as it seems to be, to not only let powerful people do such things, but when these vile acts of greed are unearthed, all they seem to get is a slap on the hand?

The fear I feel for this country, its population and its future is not mine alone. Youth are leaving the country for multiple reasons, and the government is not doing anything to incentivize them to stay or come back. The government seems to forget that what youth want are not catchy punchlines and empty promises. The youth – as should the entire population – want action. When a political figure is connected to a scandal, they should be removed from office immediately, not kept as an MP while still on payroll (or just get a letter as a “stern reprimand”). New parks should not be made while cutting down hundreds of trees to make way for a fancy new road or flyover or a new ugly block of apartments.

So, the final question posed to us is: will we let our morals stay rotten, to the point where we let our politicians do what we want and promote someone on the verge of suicide to kill themself? Or will we finally start getting our act together and embrace empathy and shun those that continue to try to tear down our morals?

“Our savage, destructive instincts are the inheritance left dormant in all of us from the primitive ages. In the life of the isolated individual it would be dangerous for him to gratify these instincts, while his absorption in an irresponsible crowd, in which in consequence he is assured of impunity, gives him entire liberty to follow them”

Gustave Le Bon

Persons who feel at risk of suicide are asked to contact the Crisis Resolution Malta 24/7 on 99339966 or e-mail: crisismalta@gmail.com or by contacting support workers available around-the-clock at kellimni.com.

Aġenzija Appoġġ offers emotional help through its round-the-clock support line, 179, for various issues, including suicide, both to those contemplating it and to relatives, especially after a loss.

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Helplines:

Richmond Foundation Helpline: 1770
Chat online: https://kellimni.com/
Information, tools & resources: https://www.kifint.com/

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