In
a period of public disillusionment with a governing system that has
been exposed as too often serving vested interests, that sold off our
country’s assets and the labour of generations not yet born to pay
foreign moneylenders for the gambling debts of bankers, property
speculators and their political lackeys, it is refreshing to know that
there are still politicians whose actions and deeds mark them off as
servants of the people rather than abusers of public office. None more
so than Michael D Higgins whose career spanning six decades has been
about implementing the ideals of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic “…that guarantees
religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to
all its citizens…to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole
nation…cherishing all the children of the nation equally…”.
His
life has been a never-ending campaign against poverty and oppression
and against the powerful elites of church and state both here and abroad
who stood in the way of securing equality, justice and due recognition
for women, children, gays, artists, minorities and the disabled. He has
served as the conscience of the nation on so many occasions and on so
many issues, sometimes giving voice to the voiceless, reminding us all,
time and time again, of the core values and responsibilities that
underpin citizenship, democracy and natural justice. Often this struggle
has been a lonely one even within his own political party.
Over
the years he has encountered many political setbacks and much personal
vilification. But such obstacles never daunted him and today he burns
with the same passion, intellect and idealism that he has always
possessed. In the last Dáil, he was one of only eighteen TDs that voted
against the catastrophic bank bailout.
Michael
D sits amongst the pantheon of heroic government ministers that include
Frank Aiken, Noel Browne, Seán Lemass and Donough O’Malley whose
visionary actions have brought long-lasting benefits to the country. As
the first Minster for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, he established
TG4, re-invigorated the Irish film industry, gave legal protection to
wildlife habitats, ended political censorship in public broadcasting and
established a countrywide network of public museums, arts venues and
theatres.
A
lot of the fundamental rights that we take for granted today in areas
such as divorce, access to contraceptives, female equality, status of
children and the disabled were only won within the last few decades
after long and hard fought campaigns by activists that always included
Michael D. Sadly he was too often the lone member of the Oireachtas
within their midst.
Maria O'Malley with Michael D with an Anti-Apartheid poster from the late 1970s at a NUIG Reunion party
He portrays those traits of the Irish that have over the centuries earned us admiration across the world.
Our respect for arts, culture, nature, folklore, heritage, sport, hard
work, creativity, compassion, egalitarianism, spirituality and community
is known in schools, theatres, concert arenas, churches, parliaments,
village halls and stadia from Seoul to Berlin; our struggle for
nationhood and republican principles has inspired generations of the
downtrodden in the Americas, Australia, Africa and Asia; our traditional
non-alignment stance has made us trusted by small nations and a popular
choice as UN peacekeepers in areas of conflict.
Michael
D’s whole life personifies this positive image of Ireland. If he became
president, he would help undo the harm caused at home and abroad by
those few but prominent Irish who forgot their roots, were often
anti-patriotic tax exiles and epitomised an arrogance and greed that
damaged the nation. Michael’s campaign trips overseas were always in solidarity with those communities in need and
not junkets or golf outings as was the case with some of his fellow
parliamentarians. His presidency would rekindle our national spirit,
making us proud to be Irish, and being able once again to offer
something of worth to the wider global community.
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