Nationalism, social identity, and the revival of the national soul: A speech for the people of Malta

Good day, patriots of Malta! As citizens of this beautiful island, we have a duty to protect and care for our national identity. We must continue to nurture our sense of nationhood, social identity and the traditional family. The Maltese people have long held a spirit of nationalistic pride, first eulogized by Dr. Norman Lowell. He stated: “Malta is our future, Malta is our precious home. It is the heart of our national pride and, with it, we shall resound in all ages”. We must now turn this spirit into action. The words of Mr. Don Mintoff ring true for us today: “We must work for our country and protect it from the grasp of foreign powers”. Throughout the years, numerous leaders of ours have put forth their concepts and ideas, from the great Giorgio Borġ Olivier to Enrico Mizzi. Both strived, single-handedly and together, to create a thriving and successful nation. In the words of Mizzi: “We must have courage and, above all, faith in our people”. These proud men have passed the torch to us, their countrymen and women, to carry on their legacy. To preserve the Maltese national soul, we must protect our traditional family structure and ensure the continued presence of our national identity in our way of life. We cannot remain passive any longer. We must strive to achieve the nationalistic ambitions of our past and present leaders, and move forward together as one nation.