-
Never Having to Say You’re Sorry
November 5, 2012 | 38 comments
-
Rudy Returns
August 6, 2012 | 70 comments
-
The Politics of Tragedy
March 26, 2012 | 388 comments
-
Reflections on Amanda Knox
October 5, 2011 | 148 comments
-
Obama’s Alter Boy
September 28, 2011 | 24 comments
At Large
The David Norris Show
Sex and intellectualism mark the Irish presidential race. And one morally bankrupt candidate is putting on a show for the ages.
David Norris made late-night television history Friday, appearing on the RTÉ network’s Late Late Show to address the personal allegations that have derailed his Irish presidential campaign. The Irish presidency is a largely ceremonial position, a national spokesman job really, with no legislative or executive power but a good deal of cultural clout. And for months David Norris — the openly gay, avowedly intellectual writer, Trinity College Dublin literature professor and ceremonial Irish senator — has been challenging and reshaping the Irish cultural zeitgeist like no public figure of his time. But is that a good thing?
The allegations against him are immense. In July, a rogue pro-Israel blogger in Dublin named John Connolly published a 1997 letter — based on a tip from “someone in the trade union movement” — that Norris had written, on Irish Senate letterhead, to an Israeli court seeking clemency for his then-partner Ezra Nawi. Nawi’s crime: the statutory rape of a 15-year old Palestinian boy. Norris’ justification for his partner’s actions: an ideological defense of classical pederasty traditions, based on the example set by the ancient Greeks. “I had a training as an academic,” Norris told Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy when faced with a 2002 radio quote he had given defending classic pedophilia. “I would draw academic distinctions.”
Norris means that from a historical and literary perspective, the ancient custom by which an older man assumes responsibility for a much younger man’s sexual and intellectual education holds merit. “I was a criminal,” Norris explained of being gay in Ireland for much of his youth. Only at seventeen, when he found an older partner who took him out of the outlaw “darkness and confusion,” did he begin to come into his own as a man.
Norris’ brutally candid, media-centric independent presidential campaign — announced in March and a quick public sensation — is the stuff of movies. The fact that there are no real stakes in the race only heightens them. Norris, who, as senator, became the first gay man elected to public office in Catholic Ireland, is engaging the voters in a head-on debate on what is and what is not acceptable in public life — and he’s not denying or hiding from anything (“I’m an open book,” he tells Tubridy).
Norris has been lecturing at Trinity College Dublin since 1968, championing the defense of James Joyce against postmodern critics. (When The Commitments author Roddy Doyle called Ulysses “overlong, overrated, and unmoving” in 2004, Norris made global headlines by calling Doyle “foolish” and “a moderate talent.”) Norris gained international prominence in the 1980s, battling the Irish anti-homosexuality law that once doomed Oscar Wilde to the labor camps. He took the Irish Attorney General to the Supreme Court of Ireland in 1983, losing his case by a 3-to-2 decision, and then fought for his cause at the European Court of Human Rights, which concluded in 1988 that the Irish law violated the European Convention on Human Rights (1953). The Irish anti-homosexuality law was repealed in 1993.
Since then, virtually every Norris quote has sparked Irish media controversy. He called Pope John Paul II an “instrument of evil” and Pope Benedict XVI a “Nazi,” dressing his inflammatory pronouncements with witty literary allusions. Having achieved complete media saturation on the Isle, he logically took his career to the next step, running for an inherently populist position with a translatory role between the government and the people.
He supports Anglophile causes, like the government preservation across Ireland of 18th century Georgian architecture (a lasting vestige of British colonialism) on aesthetic and historical grounds. He is known as the “father” of the ceremonial Irish Seanad (Senate), delivering a May 25 maiden speech upon its most recent opening that “brilliantly” supported the body’s continued existence from a traditionalist view. He is simultaneously the founder of the Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform (which lobbies Labour Party leaders to push anti-discrimination legislation), proprietor of the first gay club in Dublin, and a visible member of the Protestant Church of Ireland — condemning the Roman Catholic Church as being “above the law.” He is unquestionably the most famous man in the country, a public intellectual to a degree that Americans haven’t known since the WWII generation. For the first four months of his candidacy, he was considered a lock to win the presidency on October 27.
Prime minister Enda Kenny feared him. The nominally conservative leader of the Fine Gael Party, Kenny was swept into office in March on promises of spending cuts — snapping 24 years of centrist Fianna Fáil rule. He managed to win the 2011 elections by brokering a last-minute coalition deal with the leftist Labour Party. So while he managed to reduce Fianna Fáil’s electoral support base by a record 75 percent, he found himself forced to govern alongside Labour, the party diametrically opposed to many of his political views. The last time Fine Gael and Labour shared a majority coalition, between 1994 and 1997, the parties worked together Clinton-Gingrich style to oversee one of the greatest economic periods in modern history (known to the press as the “Celtic Tiger” economy). But that was a long time ago, and respected then-president Mary Robinson was hardly a rabble-rouser, and certainly not a celebrity boychick like Norris. Few things can undermine a prime minister like power plays from his coalition partners, and few things can incite those kinds of power plays like the workings of an unpredictable president.
In mid-July, Kenny backed conservative senator Pat Cox for the Fine Gail presidential nomination, and a shot at upsetting Norris. But his own party elders dismissed his recommendation and instead nominated Gay Mitchell, a weak politician with a history of liabilities. Kenny was incensed. (When a reporter asked him why he looked so disappointed, the PM shot back, “Am I supposed to be going around all the time grinning like the Cheshire Cat?”)
Forced to renegotiate the emergency loans his country took from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund in order to make those loan payments more affordable for Ireland, and faced with the previous leadership’s lingering bank-bailout crisis (five insolvent Dublin banks must be propped up to the tune of 50 billion tax Euros, or U.S. $70 billion, a year), Kenny needs all the political solidarity he can get in the major positions of government — even the silly little presidency. Norris, for his part, has stayed safely bipartisan on the matter — railing against the corrupt bankers and shortsighted politicians responsible for the crisis, but steering clear of actual policy analysis in favor of sweeping prayers for the Irish financial system’s “reputation worldwide.”
The economic crisis completely dominates the Isle’s political news, and justifiably so. The go-go “Celtic Tiger” years made politicians cocky, with disastrous results. Fianna Fáil finance minister Charlie McGreevy (1997-2004) helped increase spending by 48 percent during a three-year period while cutting the income tax, drawing blame for the fiscal crisis from legendary former Fine Gael prime minister Garrett FitzGerald. As Michael Lewis reported in Vanity Fair, the country’s budget deficit is now about a third of its GDP, and as recently as March Ireland was the third most likely nation in the world to default. Moody’s downgraded Ireland’s government bond ratings to junk back in July. Reuters placed the nationwide unemployment rate on September 15 at over 14 percent. The Guardian Wednesday wondered if Ireland will be “pushed out of the Euro” currency system. Protests are flaring up across the country, including a recent one in Galway outside Fine Gael’s highly publicized two-day “think-in.”
Ireland is a nation in crisis. And over the spring and summer of 2011, it found itself uniting behind David Norris. A double-digit poll leader from the outset, Norris barnstormed the island like a rock star, talking about Georgian architecture instead of bank bailouts and Irish history instead of Irish economics. For a few blissful months, it was morning in Ireland — just not a morning from this century.
The Nawi scandal broke the first week of August, and Norris promptly fled the country for his “holiday home” in Cyprus. One of the few larger-than-life characters remaining in Europe, Norris for a while experienced a larger-than-life fate: exile. In his absence, the presidential race transformed into something even stranger. The Irish press started reporting that apolitical 77-year-old talk show host Gay Byrne, the Late Late Show host from 1962 to 1999, would seek the presidency from Fianna Fáil.
Johnny Carson without the sociopathy and David Frost without the womanizing, Byrne is known as the “Elder Lemon” of Irish broadcasting. Instantly visions of a televised Norris-Byrne debate played out in people’s minds. It would be an intellectual Olympiad, we all imagined, pitting Norris’ academically-grounded desire to push the culture into liberality against Byrne’s quiet defense of Irish middle-class subtlety and taste. It would have been the most entertaining thing to hit politics since the Mailer-Breslin mayoral ticket. But it never happened.
Norris quoted Samuel Beckett in his official withdrawal speech. Byrne decided not to run. So too did popular favorite Martin Sheen — yes that Martin Sheen, eligible by virtue of his Irish mother. Just as Mitchell and Labour candidate Michael D. Higgins, by default, edged ahead in the polls, paramilitary expert Martin McGuinness “threw his name into the hat” as the Sinn Fein candidate. Though Sinn Fein is an extreme party historically affiliated with the Provisional IRA, McGuinness is running on his peace-negotiation credentials in Northern Ireland and the now popular (and recently, historically executed) platform of welcoming the Queen to the Republic. Even after Norris expressed his desire to re-enter the race Friday, McGuinness topped him in a radio flash poll by seven points.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
More Articles by Patrick Howley
More Articles From At Large
http://spectator.org/archives/2011/09/22/the-david-norris-show
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Moe Blotz| 9.22.11 @ 7:40AM
Pity the poofter did not have a sympathetic media such as ours behind him,his message of hope and change would have carried him to victory.
jomo2009| 9.22.11 @ 3:07PM
I'm sure they would prefer to be behind him rather than vice versa.
Burt Control | 9.22.11 @ 9:28AM
Excellent overview. Norris, despite his faults, appears the be the best of a very poor field. He might have some skeletons in his closet, but better that than real skeletons buried in unmarked graves...
As of this afternoon, Norris appears to be only 3 short of the magic figure of 20 nominations. He might just get into the Aras after all! And good luck to him.
Burt Control | 9.22.11 @ 3:09PM
Speaking of David Norris shows, this takes the preverbial biscuit. It's the unofficial campaign anthem, Rabble Arouser (David Norris - Stick Him In the Aras). Unreal tune for an unreal election...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYrSKteVcY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpYrSKteVcY
Shane Murphy| 9.22.11 @ 11:21AM
I sincerely hope you don't have a large readership considering the amount of errors and misquotes contained in the above article including calling Charlie McCreevy our "Prime minister". I assume you mean the Taoiseach, a position which Charlie Mc Creevy never held, he was European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services in the period 2004-2010. Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach from 1997-2008 and Brian Cowen afterwards from 2008-2011. Even using wikipedia to find your facts would make it more accurate.
I'd love to see links for Norris' non contextual quotes. Also, curious as to why you would reference such a small online publication such as Irish central when every other major publication in the republic is saying Norris is just 3 Oireachtas members away from nomination as "Burt Control" pointed out above?
Gerard| 9.22.11 @ 11:40AM
One of the most factually inaccurate articles I've ever read. Norris admitted his mistake and sorrow at sending that lettter; and I, as an Irish Citizen and voter in the upcoming election, accept that. His comments on Pope Benedict are spot on. Best of luck David; if nominated (and it looks like you will be) - the Irish people stand ready to vote you into office. As for McGuinness running on his 'running on his peace-negotiation credentials in Northern Ireland ' - laughing out loud to that one.
Pucan Mhicil Phaidin| 9.22.11 @ 3:19PM
Norris is intellectually as light as a feather. As Brendan Kennelly once quipped: "Norris knows f*** all about Joyce."
A country that built it's economy on the illusion of the an eternal German willingness to underwrite debt deserves a fraud such as Norris.
Occam's Tool| 9.22.11 @ 4:55PM
Well, the Irish ruling class are pro-Nazi and pro-child sodomy (Oscar Wilde did his thing with adults---sorry, 15 years old doth push).
Who woulda thunk it?
kingsmill| 9.22.11 @ 6:22PM
Your history is almost Norris-like in it's idiocy.
Oscar Wilde was a product of the Anglo-Irish Ascendency-the instrument of the British ruling class in Ireland.
The only proto fascist elements in Ireland were a small faction known as the Blueshirts akin to the Mosley proto fascists in Britain.
Occam's Tool| 9.23.11 @ 12:13AM
Kingsmill: The Prime Minister of Ireland visited the German Embassy after Hitler died to offer his condolences.
(Wilde I simply mention as the best known Irish poofter, Anglo-Irish aristocracy or not. On him I'm torn---he adored Doctors, but disliked Jews. As a Jewish Doctor, I don't know.)
But Ireland was Neutral against the Nazis in the worst hour of the Western World and the above condolence offering to the worst regime in history did happen from De Valera, for which he deserved 100 whippings to his testicles.
Apparently the Irish Jews liked him, though, but you'd have to be pretty psychotic to be a Jew in Ireland. (There have never been even as many as 2000 Jews in ireland. For comparison, Houston, TX, not known as a prominent player in the American jewish community, has 25,000 Jews.)
In short, Kingsmill, when it comes to Jewish history, which is what the De Valera condolence offering is part of, you can "kish mir tuchus." It shpould also be noted that De Valera was one of the most PRO-Jewish politicians in Ireland.
kingsmill| 9.23.11 @ 12:12PM
DeValera, as an Irish Nationalist, almost executed by the Brits in 1916 (spared due to his father's American citizenship), was absolutely correct in remaining neutral in 1940.
If you actually believe that an Irish nationalist, who had opposed the creation of the Irish Free State in 1921, due to it's status as a technical part of the British Commonwealth could join with Britain in a common front than I have land in Florida you may want to have a look at.
The British introduction of terrorist Black and Tans and Auxiliary shock troops into Ireland in the 1920s, along with the just concluded economic war with Britain in the 1930s, left no possibility of any course except neutrality for an Irish nationalist.
I suppose you despise John Adams for not joining Britain in it's wars against revolutionary France. The situations are analogous.
His visit to the German embassy to offer condolences upon Hitler's death was based on his legalistic mindset and rigid adherence to the neutrality principle. A complete fraud would have abandoned neutrality and lined up with the victors.
I could make the argument that Menachem Begin and Irgun were commie sympathisers by carrying out the bombing of the King David Hotel in 1946. It would be pure bull-crap- just like your argument concerning DeValera.
Ken (Old Texican)| 9.22.11 @ 5:44PM
Patrick,
WHO GIVES A DAMN?
The only folks left in Ireland are the folks who missed the boat....to the new world.
Can you pronounce the word "culls"?
Gerard| 9.23.11 @ 4:35AM
The new world! America, where bigotry thrives, independent thought is thrown out the window and people become a slave to their 'moral'.
Belloc| 9.24.11 @ 11:40AM
The Euro world! Where unelected apparatchiks impose their world views on the benighted. The sheepeople in Ireland swallow their castor oil, so long as they are supplied a chaser of Euro subsidies and their debt is wished away.....
ManassasGrandma| 9.22.11 @ 8:22PM
The obvious admiration for a man supporting child molestation is appalling to me.
Gerard| 9.23.11 @ 4:33AM
No, it's not a man supportive of child molestation. Get your facts right before making such a post.
Tony| 9.26.11 @ 8:19AM
The facts are these - Norris in his interview in Magill Magazine in 2002 stated:
"In terms of classic paedophilia, as practised by the Greeks for example, where it is an older man introducing a younger man or boy to adult life, I think there can be something to be said for it. And in terms of North African experience this is endemic.
Now again, this is not something that appeals to me, although when I was younger it would most certainly have appealed to me in the sense that I would have greatly relished the prospect of an older, attractive, mature man taking me under his wing, lovingly introducing me to sexual realities, and treating me with affection and teaching me about life - yes, I think that would be lovely; I would have enjoyed that."...
"But I think there is complete and utter hysteria about this subject, and there is also confusion between ... paedophilia and pederasty..."
He even tried to categorise child molestation, in another part he said:
"In my opinion, the teacher, or Christian Brother, who puts his hand into a boy's pocket during a history lesson, that is one end of the spectrum. but then there is another: there is the person who attacks children of either sex, rapes them, brutalises them, and then murders them. But the way things are presented here it's almost as if they were all exactly the same and I don't think they are. and I have to tell you this -- I think that the children in some instances are more damaged by the condemnation than by the actual experience."
The author of the piece was of the opinion that Norris was all in favour of unfettered sexual activity regardless of age and guided only by "mutual consent". She went on to state that Norris did not appear to endorse any minimum age or endure any protest that a child was not capable of giving informed consent. He stated: "The law in this sphere should take in to account consent rather than age". When he was asked about incest, he hesitated, and concluded that in the case of girls a case could be made for a ban, as possible resulting pregnancy might be genetically undesirable.
In my opinion this guy endorses classic paedophilic reasoning and as he clearly cannot draw a distinction between children and adults in matters of sexuality, is clearly a danger to children everywhere. The man is an immoral pervert.
Belloc| 9.24.11 @ 11:23AM
David is just very understanding about the attractions of pedophilia. He wouldn't do it himself, mind you, but he certainly wouldn't be so narrow minded as to denounce anyone else for their preferences.
POST American| 9.23.11 @ 4:06AM
------Nice piece.
Af course, what now links the US, Ireland,
Britain ---indeed, the entire northern hemisphere
now, even beyond the USURY and EUGENICS
mafia ------is fallout.
Fallout from ------FUKISHIMA
--------------------------FUKISHIMA
------------------------------FUKISHIMA
---------------------------------FUKISHIMA
Gerard| 9.23.11 @ 8:04AM
"Though Sinn Fein is an extreme party historically affiliated with the Provisional IRA, McGuinness is running on his peace-negotiation credentials in Northern Ireland and the now popular (and recently, historically executed) platform of welcoming the Queen to the Republic"
He didn't welcome the Queen to Ireland; Sinn Fein were invited but boycotted it on the grounds that her visit was 'premature'. Where are you getting your facts from, a pulpit?
Belloc| 9.25.11 @ 12:53PM
these "facts" sound as if they came from a bathhouse not a pulpit.
supra | 10.18.11 @ 1:52AM
Your article really fascinates the core of my interest.Thanks you!
john long| 10.20.11 @ 6:04AM
David Norris is an inspirational man who has shown integrity in the face of a media barrage... when Ireland can elect an openly gay protestant candidate because he is the right man it will truly be a Republic free from the shackles of the catholic church