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THE NEED FOR NATIONALISM
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Opinion by Kaelan Victor Joyce. A bold statement that is open to interpretation. Is there really a need for such a thing? There are those who will instantly dismiss such a notion. They will argue that in the Europe of today in which free movement between EU states is encouraged and EU citizens are no longer restricted by boundaries nationalism is an antiquated concept. Legislation has been drafted and implemented, which stipulates that EU citizens can seek employment in any other EU state. Furthermore they are entitled to the exact same treatment as those native to the land. Including all social and tax related advantages that may help them integrate in the host country. Additionally they can stay there even after their employment term has expired.
Due to Gibraltar’s unique situation and obvious size limitations (limited size, limited capacity) such stated legislation genuinely concerns me. Theoretically accordingly to EU law, millions of EU immigrants could come to Gibraltar and settle here. From a pragmatic perspective this seems extremely precarious as we are simply not big enough to cater for such a large influx of people. Unique because even though we are technically part of the European Union, the EU permits one of its member states to blatantly harass us and enforce tedious border checks that have no place in modern western civilisation. It seems to be a classic case of “do as I say and not as I do”.
DISINTEGRATING OUR IDENTITY
The Gibraltar of today is very different to the one of 15 years ago. We have come a long way since “those days” and credit must be given to our current Government for enabling us as a people to do so. We have not only survived in times of dire global socio-economic distress but thrived. Thrived to the point where we consider ourselves an “established” finance centre (even though we are having power cut issues synonymous with the likes of third world countries) and have one of the lowest employment rates in the whole of Europe (even though a significant number of qualified/experienced locals find themselves stuck in dead end jobs or forced to pursue their careers abroad). What concerns me though is not what we have become but what we are becoming. Gibraltar has blossomed both socially and financially but at what cost? Could it be at the cost of forgetting who we are? In my humble opinion the Gibraltarian of today can no longer relate to “el pueblo” in the same way as my father and his father before him could. The strong sense of patriotism of the past seems to be disintegrating as is our identity as a people. We are slowly but surely losing touch with our heritage and history.
During the last World cup (football) I watched on in utter disbelief as my fellow Gibraltarians did the unthinkable. They hanged Spanish flags from their windows and wore Spanish national team shirts. I never thought I would live to see such a day. Those defending these actions claimed that politics and sports should not be mixed and I reluctantly acknowledged there was some reasoning to these arguments. Until that is, I saw a photograph of a Gibraltar registered car draped in Spanish flags heading La Linea Digital’s (Spanish online newspaper) main article after Spain had beaten the Netherlands in the final.
Victims of our own success and surrounded by an ever expanding concrete jungle I have perceived an increase in the tension between the “classes”. Civil servants are routinely labelled as “lazy” and those who cannot find adequate employment stereotyped as “bums who do not want to work”. Deluded by visions of grandeur and driven by greed we are becoming our own worst enemies and in the process accepting the misconception “que el llanito es flojo”. It seems that in the Monte Carlo like state we currently live in those who least benefit from our “prosperous” economy are those who most should, the locals!
In the past I have publicly advocated for protectionist like polices and have been branded an “ultra nationalist” for it. One must contemplate to what extent our core social values have been altered during our quest to achieve ‘progression’. Especially when it is taken into account that advocating preferential treatment for our people in our land is deemed as unacceptable and “ultra” nationalistic. Whilst parading round in Spanish national team shirts and treating our own people like second class citizens in their own land is perceived to be “okay” and “un-political”.
CHARITY STARTS AT HOME
Let us note that charity starts at home first. There is a need to create a strong safety net for our future generations, to invest in employment programmes that work and a Government that capitalizes on their initial investments, which I sincerely believe our current Government does not. When our Government via the tax payer’s monies pays for the education of students but upon completion of such stated education, (be it an employment programme or a degree/diploma of some sort) fails to create adequate employment opportunities for these individuals. The return on the initial investment made by them/us (because it is our money) is automatically rendered void.
For example the GHA (who the Government is responsible for) makes little effort to recruit local graduates. Their website (check it out) advertises their vacancies in a manner that would have you believe Gibraltar is some sort of holiday resort! And I quote “Gibraltar, a British dependency on the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula is just over 2 hours away (flying time) from the UK. Gibraltar is located within walking distance from the Spanish mainland, a six hour drive will get you to Portugal, while a short ferry ride away the African continent awaits.” The intended target audience is clearly not one native to Gibraltar. Additionally locums get their accommodation paid for and tax reimbursed amongst other perks. All this whilst qualified locals find themselves doing odd jobs to make ends meet, incidentally a qualified physiotherapist delivered a pizza to my house a few weeks ago.
We have long been a multicultural society and in my opinion sovereignty is something that should be bestowed upon those loyal to our land and our people. Those who have made Gibraltar their home and have directly contributed to the success of our economy regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. In the UK they have recently understood that a country divided along class, ethnic, religious and political lines is a country heading for disaster. They have had to encounter and deal with dire social and economic turmoil to finally come to these conclusions.
Recent polls in the UK show that a far right group would fare extremely well at their next general elections. Let us take heed from such examples and act now before it is too late and we too find ourselves resorting to similar extreme measures.
INCREASINGLY DIVIDED GIBRALTAR
There is a need to raise awareness and appeal to our people, all of them. In an increasingly divided Gibraltar those from diverse backgrounds must unite and crusade to improve Gibraltar from within. By adhering to one collective identity people will be able to lead meaningful, autonomous lives whilst simultaneously preserving their roots. I sincerely believe this form of unity will be our only hope.
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