The Malta Independent on Sunday
The (patriotic?) politics of fear
We should, however, have some empathy with Muslim and Evangelical Christian parents (or whoever) who want their children taught their beliefs and not Catholicism in school.
In the past in this newspaper I have often argued that only parents have both the moral and the legal right to determine what their children are taught. This is final and absolute. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Art. 26.3) affirms that “parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children”. In the European Convention on Human Rights (Art. 2 of the First Protocol) it is asserted that “the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.”
The rights of parents with regard to the education of their children should not be controversial in Malta. The Maltese Education Act, (Ch.327, Part 1.6) states that it “is the right of every parent of a minor to give his decision with regard to any matter concerning the education which the minor is to receive.”
When I recently argued that parents’ rights had been illegally taken away by the Minister and others, I received a lot of support. I am referring here to teaching children that they can choose not remain the gender they were born as but instead can choose to be another other gender if they feel so inclined.
The Education Minister has chosen to disregard the rights of parents on the issue of teaching gender theories in schools. This same Minister recently stated his intention to allow the children of Maltese Muslim parentage to learn the faith of their parents in our schools. This disregard for parental rights in one case and upholding them in the other is unprincipled. Giving Maltese Muslim parents the same privilege as is already afforded Catholic parents is nevertheless a step in the right direction with regard to parental rights. It should also be extended to other Christian sects such as Evangelical Christians.
Sadly, some of the groups and individuals that supported me when I was arguing for parental rights regarding the teaching of harmful gender theories have now come out against giving the same rights to Muslim parents. This is also unprincipled. Either we support the right of parents to determine the education of their children or we do not. We cannot let this question of principle be determined by whether or not we agree with the choice other parents make for their own children.
My view remains that all Maltese parents have the right to be consulted about – and consent to – what their child is taught. And I believe that we as a society, but especially the Minister of Education, should do more to giving real effect to that right.
Realistically, no parents will be opposing the curriculum in geography, mathematics or English. The real controversy will be in topics such as religion and sexual education. And, on the issue of religion, we must distinguish between the teaching about religions and the teaching of religions. The question is who should teach, and how. Personally, I prefer that the Islam is taught under the total control and monitoring of our Christian government, by teachers whose qualifications are recognised by our government and who are also controlled by us rather than by some unknown person capable of teaching whatever he wants to these children in some garage with no moral/legal safeguards in place to monitor his activities.
The debate following the Minister’s statement has given rise to emotionally-driven arguments and illogical fears. IlPatrijotti has been the driving force behind this effort to instil absolute fear – phobia – in voters. They tell us that we must forcefully counteract something that frightens us. In effect, you will only vote for them because you are afraid of something or someone.
So let’s begin allaying some of the fears they instil by stating the obvious. If you are a Christian, your child will continue to be taught your faith. No one can take away that right from you. No one is capable of taking away that right from you.
The absurdity of Patrijotti’s argument becomes clear when you actually examine it logically and without emotion.
In the TV-programme (TVm2) in which I participated on behalf of Alleanza Bidla, along with Norman Vella who represented il-Patrijotti, Mr Vella ar- gued that giving Maltese Muslim children the right to learn their parent’s religion in our schools would result in the introduction of Sharia Law into Malta, an ‘invasion’ of Muslims and our Christian children’s indoctrination, eventually leading to extreme Islam.
Il-Patrijotti did not even bother to explain how the Minister’s proposal would actually result in these horrors. My guess is that they cannot explain in a coherent, logical way how one would lead to the other (and, for the record, I would fight the introduction of Sharia Law in Malta; I believe in tightly regulated immigration and I would never permit my children to receive any such belief that goes against my own Christian belief.)
Il-Patrijotti’s argument is insane. Christianity is an integral part of Maltese law. To argue that Malta will have Sharia Law “imposed” on it by any Imam, Bishop or Minister “because they want it to happen” is immature if not infantile. For Sharia Law to actually become law in Malta, we would need to have an Islamic parliament. And to get that we would need to have a wholesale conversion of the Maltese population. I for one am not about to change my Christian faith and I cannot see other Maltese Christians lining up to change either. It is senseless and unreasonable to argue that Sharia can somehow be introduced to Malta when an overwhelming majority of Maltese are Catholic and that Catholicism itself is enshrined in our Constitution.
Anyone practicing Sharia Law in Malta in the way that ilPatrijotti sensationally explains it to us (the chopping off of hands, the throwing of homosexuals off roof tops, stoning, etc.) would clearly be acting illegally and their actions would therefore be punishable by law. Maltese law does not allow such behaviour and that fact is not about to change any time soon. Il-Patrijotti also insists that Sharia Law is already being practiced in Malta. I have never encountered it, but if they know of such instances (other than as unsubstantiated rumours) they should report it immediately to the police. This will show us if the politics of ilPatrijotti is based on something deeper and more substantial than unconfirmed anecdotes and unfounded fears. Put up or shut up as Trump himself would tell them.
Il-Patrijotti seem content to use an additional tactic – bullying those who dare disagree with them. After the programme in which I participated with il-Patrijotti there has been the spreading of vicious and unfounded rumours. One lie that is being spread about me is that I am converting to Islam and am now working against Christianity. A pastor I respect highly called me to confirm whether this nonsense was true as this is what has been spread throughout certain churches by members of the congregation. It has also spread to social media. It is a falsehood spread by people close to and working within the ranks of il-Patrijotti.
Let me make it clear. Christianity does not need to be defended by deviousness, deceit or defamation. True Christianity and the extremism and tactics of il-patrijotti mix as much as light mixes with darkness.
The Sermon on the Mount contains the central ethical teaching of Christ: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”. This is good advice for everyone that wants to discuss the rights of parents of different faiths who want to choose the education for their children and also good advice on how to behave in the political arena.