From Malta: No, I’m not a Racist but…I am capable of indifference.

I can understand that the number of migrants that come to Malta, particularly in the summer period, is quite a big number when compared to the size of our island. I also admit that the problem is complex – and most of the frustration seems to stem from the fact that the parties involved have no control over their own destiny. But this is not what I would like to talk about. But rather, I want to talk about something that we tend to miss - whatever our position on migration – there is no reason whatsoever to be indifferent once someone is living amongst us.

Maltese people rarely admit or claim to be racists – but will each have at least one problem with migrants. Some say because of their religion, some blame their cultures, some blame their upbringing and you would also hear some people say that all migrants that come to Malta are bad people. Maybe your indifference is not related to race, colour or culture. It is still indifference. And how does indifference help the situation?

Sometimes I feel that some Maltese people have no sense of empathy. They do not think of how bad the lives of some of these migrants were, and what were the reasons behind them leaving their country. Surely no one would risk dying on their way here or leave their family if they weren’t living in unbearable conditions. Such things really strike me as surprising, especially by a nation that is overwhelmingly Catholic and unified against murder and abortion. Maybe you can argue that for some, the conditions for them were not life threatening, but just bad conditions - again is this a reason to be indifferent?

What is really bothering us? Sometimes we hear arguments related to the economic burden of supporting migrants who do not work. Which is a fair argument, but wait - what if they find work and can support themselves and pay taxes? Yes, then the argument becomes that they are taking our jobs! Again, here we are talking about the lives of people who are now here. If they are here, can we at least give some credit to the people who try to integrate?

Also, please keep in mind, that for some of the migrants arriving here, we are physically saving someone’s life, literally. I would like to hope that we still live in a world where the value of human life is far more important than the problem of having less job opportunities, nationalism, economy or any other ‘convenience’ concerns people might have. But I guess that if we are not going through it ourselves, then saving the lives of others is not so important after all.

So I ask myself, if we are not racist, why do we have to be indifferent? Maybe it is because of certain insecurities? Maybe it’s a result of certain inferiority/superiority? I for one would like to know. All I know that for sure it could be much easier for everyone if everyone tried to be a bit more tolerant and accepting. So whoever is reading this, even if you have controversial views on migration – at least ask yourself this question; in what way does being indifferent to a person who is now living amongst us help?