Dear members of the Oireachtas,
With just over 7 weeks until the people of Ireland go to the polling stations to cast their vote to elect our next President, there lurks a question mark shaped cloud that bears a conundrum which simply leaves me baffled. It is not a very complicated question but perhaps thinking of how to articulate an answer will take some time, the inquiry is simple: why were you elected?
Forgive my sharpness, I suppose I should have led up to the question with my reasoning for making such an inquiry. You see, I was always of the conviction that when we, the Irish voters, went to the polling stations, we did so under the impression that we were to choose who we thought would best lead our, beit our locality, constituency, region, or country. I was unaware that we were to lend our support based on our notions of who had made the fewest mistakes or, for want of a more comprehendible term, who was the more public relations friendly candidate.
This confusion arrives to me after what I have witnessed over the last few weeks and months in relation to the news that Senator David Norris had withdrawn from the Presidential race over a 'scandal'. This scandal, as I am sure you are aware, concerns a letter he wrote seeking leniancy for his former partner, Ezra Nawi, in what has now been dubbed "The Nawi Plea". It appears that the Senator's appeal, almost 20 years on, is still a most contentious matter. So contentious in fact that Independent Deputy, Finian McGrath, is quoted in The Examiner as saying that he would not back the Senator again because, as he says "I think it would be the wrong decision, because I think, probably, something else would come out". However, when I think about it, this makes sense because naturally, 20 years after making a mistake and being publicly humiliated for it at the hands of a merciless media machine, we as humans, with a capacity for learning and intellect, cannot learn from our mistakes and will undoubtedly fall into the familiar trap of our own unrelenting desire to keep making embarassing faux-pas!
However, our courageous leaders, my question to you still remains, are we the Irish voters meant to elect who we feel is going to be the better leader or who we feel is going to be the lesser 'embarassment'? In addition, if I may be so bold, as leaders, should we take a leaf from the books of each of you who withdrew your support for Senator Norris and, in fact, not forgive others for their mistakes? And therefore, should we take from your example and chastise and castigate those who fall victim flaws of their own humanity for fear of reperpetration, as you have done?
Forgive me, I appear to be asking you many questions which I am sure you do not have time to answer. But any light you could shed on the matter would be greatly appreciated because I see now that you are flawless and all-knowing. Therefore, I seek your leadership to help me through my predicament, for I do not see so clearly, for I am am just an ignorant Irish voter in need of guidance.
Most sincerely,
An Irish Voter
