Between viruses and price hikes, I get the feeling that many people are approaching this period of resolutions and promises with a dampened spirit and weak will. The manner by which we calculate the passage of time has always meant that sometime around the period of 25 December (the ancient festival of Sol Invictus – the Undefeated Sun) we begin to prepare for the forthcoming new cycle. In the modern age this has also afforded us the ephemeral excuse of setting ourselves new goals with which to test our wills – the infamous New Year Resolutions.
I spent most of the period following the winter solstice in the eternal city of Rome and it was while traipsing around the palatine, somewhere close to the Domus Julia, that I felt the first signs of the influenza virus taking over my senses. For I am but human, of the male gender to boot, and everybody knows how susceptible males are to the ravaging damages of the influenza virus. Apparently it was not just me but much of Europe that was suffering the consequences of a particularly harsh attack of the bastard microbe.
Still, I got to learn new stuff while in Rome. My education would not result from the plethora of historical sites that dot the ancient city like a particularly harsh attack of the morbillivirus. Of course, they did provide an added value but my greatest lesson would come from a childhood friend who I was visiting in Rome. In between a gourmand festival at some Casale and some shopping (de rigueur) around the jam-packed vie (streets), we discussed the “whys” and “becauses” of life as in Gino Paoli’s famous song.
Accipio (accept)
My childhood friend has been my guide in Rome since I first went to visit him what seems like ages ago. He is a sworn son of the city and his allegiance to its very essence goes beyond the strongest sense of patriotism. Tattooed on one of his arms is the Latin maxim “Nihil difficile volenti” – nothing is difficult for the strong willed. During one of our myriad conversations that are the Roman equivalent of philosophy at the dinner table, he pointed out that I tend to get too hot under the collar and allow myself to be troubled by too many things.
“Your problem is that you are too smart. You cannot solve everything or change everything. We all pass through that phase. I have learnt to accept. If other people are content doing things the way they do them, then just learn to take a deep breath and accept the fact that it is their way.” I paraphrase a recollection that may be slightly blurred thanks to a few sips of Roman wine (or the ‘Centoerbe’ digestif) but the gist of what he said is there. For a moment I was stunned, almost offended. But then I understood.
It makes sense really. The ‘philosophy of acceptance’ does not mean giving up and resigning from the self-arrogated job of “agent of change” but it means accepting the ways of the world. Above all, as my friend would stress, the world can never be changed to be the way you would like it to be. This seems obvious, but most times it is not. Our constant struggle to mould everyone and everything into “how we think they or it should be” is reflected in our daily interaction. It underpins our Mediterranean style of politics, whether liberal or conservative. I am still wondering what best to do with this newly acquired insight but I have a feeling that it will have an effect of some sort on my forthcoming year.
Abeo (change)
In a way, we will have to accept many facts in 2011. We have to accept the fact that in its struggle against the monster (virtual or real?) that is the current economic crisis, the political machine will spout two answers: (1) “Austerity” is the answer given by those with their hands on the purse and (2) “Solidarity with the Poor” will be the answer of the ‘progressives’ in Opposition. Whether it is Cameron-Clegg vs Miliband or Gonzi vs Muscat, you will have to accept that these are the rules of the game for the coming months.
Faced with the rising price of the basic food basket (it’s not just Malta, you know) from bread to milk, from fuel to gas to water, the electorate will have some choices to make. It can accept that the situation demands austerity and strict management but it must also question whether the solutions offered by its politicians are genuine or knee-jerk populist. Many of us will have to accept an even greater factor than all of the above – and that is that when push comes to shove, the electorate tends to vote with its heart and not with its brain.
Nothing is difficult if you will it though. While we may learn to accept the ways of life more readily, and while we tame our more rebellious side in order to seem more balanced in our approach, there will always be those who try to achieve more. Take Thomas Cremona, the leukaemia survivor attempting the Transatlantic rowing challenge, or Sean MacGahern attempting the longest dive in open waters. Citius, altius, fortius (faster, higher, stronger) – we should also be able to accept that while most of us sit back and complain, there are a select few who are prepared to push beyond the accepted boundaries and set new standards.
On the Street Where You Live
The Romans of old had a Via Salaria (it’s still there, by the way) – it was the road that linked Rome to the port of Ascoli, where the precious salt pans lay. Salt was an expensive commodity then, and used as a currency and also as remuneration for soldiers – hence the word ‘salary’. I wonder whether, having accepted the whole farce that is the discussion on MP honoraria (a pay increase that is definitely mistimed but not unnecessary), we should change the name of Republic Street to ‘Via Honoraria’.
Whether ‘honour’ becomes a common currency in this day and age of bandwagon politics remains to be seen.
www.akkuza.com strongly recommends La Soffitta in Piazza Risorgimento for gluten-free food while in Rome.
This article appeared in the Malta Independent on Sunday on the 9th January 2011.
