Read on Twitter
There's a weird social media thing happening with the Eamon Ryan story... that people want there to be a for/against, ideological divide. There shouldn't have to be.
What's happening, IMO, is a human reaction by people to a human failing (and it was a failing).
What's happening, IMO, is a human reaction by people to a human failing (and it was a failing).
That human reaction looks like:
Some people are justifiably angry at a politician being *fully* asleep on the job.
Others are looking at him as a human and giving him a pass (for myriad reasons).
Some people (perhaps many) are a mix of the above or oscillate between them.
Some people are justifiably angry at a politician being *fully* asleep on the job.
Others are looking at him as a human and giving him a pass (for myriad reasons).
Some people (perhaps many) are a mix of the above or oscillate between them.
Those reactions are all fine, human, normal, in my opinion. It doesn't make you more left/more right/a better person to be one way or the other.
The other weird, divisive thing is the comparisons to 'If this was Mary Lou'....
If this was Mary Lou, there would be the same human reaction from people.
Those opinions might fall along party lines (if people have a party, which a *lot* of people don't) but they also may not
If this was Mary Lou, there would be the same human reaction from people.
Those opinions might fall along party lines (if people have a party, which a *lot* of people don't) but they also may not
I can imagine there will be comment pieces in the weekend papers about the incident. I'd imagine there would be if it happened to ML. Some will be supportive of ER, some won't. I'd imagine it would be the same if it happened ML.
Mary Lou McDonald is a better politician than Eamon Ryan (if that is an objectively measurable thing). This doesn't even have to be acknowledged in political commentary (truism) so I'm not sure why this comparison thing has arisen - except to promote divisive discourse.
Final point: Mary Lou McDonald has the correct relationship with the media in Ireland. She is extremely well regarded, in the proper manner by people who interview her and report on her actions.
Please remember, opinion pieces and columns are not The Media.
Please remember, opinion pieces and columns are not The Media.
PS. I do think it's totally out of order that ER had to be woken up to vote while at work. I can also see how it would happen.
Pps. Another salient point from @ellenmcoyne https://twitter.com/ellenmcoyne/status/1284139479972929537
