Thoughts and happenings from a life on Malta

Dr Joseph Muscat, leader of the opposition, as quoted by the Times: "Malta believed in peace and while it would always be there to help in times of conflicts, it would retain its neutrality and not take sides." Excuse me, but if I believe in peace, how can I not take sides?

Being tortured mate? I feel for you but I'm from Malta and I don't take sides.

Oh raped, woman? That's horrible but I'm from Malta and I don't take sides.

Shot at by soldiers folks, because you're protesting for a better life? May God be with you but I'm from Malta and I don't take sides.

Mr Labour or Nationalist politician, did you say you need my vote? May the best team win but I'm from Malta and I don't take sides.

I sit here at my favourite watering hole-cum-feeding trough, attention divided between the updating news regarding the Libyan crisis to my right and palm fronds flapping in the wind to my left.

Sky News dominates one of the flat screens floating between floor and ceiling. Its raison d'être is to update news as it happens but what when nothing happens for an hour or more? Then it defaults to constant repeats, in this case of the video shots of a shot at war plane. A distracted observer might easily be misled into believing that Dictator Gaddafi's air force is being Shelltoxed from the sky and dropping like flies. Every so often a map of Libya, with different coloured areas to differentiate between rebel-held zones and forces loyal to the dictator, is displayed. In an era when rapid change seems to be the only measure of progress, the unchanging nature of the chart is as stultifying as the expanse of desert it illustrates.

Outdoors, the liveliness of the fronds dancing from the palm trees is a more joyous sight, with the green glistening in sunlight contrasting vividly with sand-coloured apartment blocks; residences that can only be purchased if the Euro symbol is followed by a plethora of digits. An oozing wealth manifests itself not only in the property but also the vehicles, dress and conversation that circulates the area, making me feel like a piece of flotsam washed ashore on an idyllic sandy beach in the Caribbean. I make a tepid attempt at keeping up with the Joneses by flashing my iPad, all 64 gigabytes of it, with 3G and wi-fi to boot. In truth, this lifestyle is beyond my financial reach but as I glance back to the suspended screen, I understand that I'm equally rich to have this luxury of sitting back and sipping on it.

DEMONSTRATION

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF LIBYA

TOMORROW SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY

 AT 10.30AM

IN VALLETTA

STARTING AT CITY GATE