Trawling through the various blogs, news portals and websites yesterday, I came across this comment on Lou Bondi’s blog:

Dear Lou,

I’m writing anonymously as I fear that your style of journalism/political activism has degenerated into the terroristic Facebook witch hunts that have become the order of the day in Malta.

This statement confirms a trend I have been noticing for months now…people are afraid to use their real names, and are posting comments either anonymously or using a fake name. Why is this when we are told repeatedly that this is a democracy and that no one needs to be afraid of criticising the government like we used to be in the Bad Old Days? In fact, anyone who says otherwise is dismissed as being paranoid and obsessed with conspiracy theories.

And yet the facts are pointing to a different reality. Take this new blog which is being written by a certain Nick Azzopardi. There is no photo, nothing about the person in an “About” section, and no identity which can be verified – he does not exist on Facebook and in fact there are no links to any of the social media. Now why is that? Is this person using a fake name? If so, should we not know who it really is? More significantly, what is this person afraid of?

Meanwhile, those who do not post comments using their real names will bluntly tell you that yes, they do fear some kind of retaliation; they are afraid of losing their job or being denied a promotion, or even workplace harassment and intimidation by their superiors. They are afraid of having their children being bullied at school by their peers, and unfortunately in a few cases, even by teachers who  may be of a different political persuasion. These things have happened before, and they are still happening.

So people keep their heads low and their mouths shut, and are back to talking in the equivalent of hushed whispers, by registering their feelings anonymously.

When Nicola Abela Garrett caused such a stir by calling Austin Gatt a “fu**ing wanker”, several students who were interviewed admitted that it is difficult to protest on political issues on campus because you never know if some lecturer will get back at you by giving you a poor grade.  Then there is always the risk that you will be forever labelled as “that troublemaker” even when you apply for a job in the future. Free country? You tell me.

I think the intimidation which has spread like a thick mist over the country is choking all of us, and the more we show we are afraid, the more those who have power to make other people lose their jobs will grow confident that they have a stranglehold on what people do and say.

A few days ago I watched an excellent film called The Help about black maids in the 1960s who were encouraged to tell their true stories about the appalling way the rich, white housewives in Jackson, Mississippi were treating them. The maids would only  tell their stories on strict condition of anonymity for fear of being found out and losing their jobs (or worse). Throughout the film I couldn’t help drawing parallels with our current situation…instead of blacks you can substitute those who are left-wing or anti-PN or even floating voters, and instead of the white folk you can substitute the Nationalist movers and shakers who are in control.

I am not exaggerating…there is real fear in Malta at the moment. And if you don’t believe me, just check  how many people are using fake names.

(P.S…a note to Lou Bondi. Next time you wish to lift a photo of JPO from this website all you have to do is ask.  You know, common courtesy, media ethics  and all that…)