Sitting on the fence is safest (unfortunately)

Abstract

The President’s recent appeal to academics to speak their mind and to contribute to public debate is sacrosanct, to say the least, given the conspicuously absent public participation of the academic body over the years. In a day and age where we strive to promote a knowledge-based society and evidence-based policy-making, the unstinting contribution to public dialogue of academics is sorely needed more than ever. Having said this, I am in two minds over whether the current low profile maintained by Maltese academics is justified or not. Staying perpetually on the fence, consistently avoiding to commit oneself on any issue and to seek refuge exclusively in academic disciplines of choice, which is the strategy followed by many, has a number of low-lying fruit. Chief among these is avoiding the proverbial egg on one’s face or the burning of one’s fingers for speaking one’s mind, as well as accusations of harbouring particular partisan leanings.