I am sitting here early in the morning listening to news of John Brogden's suicide attempt last night. Brogden stepped down as leader of the NSW Parliamentary Liberal Party on Monday following media reports that he had harassed two female journalists and made a racial slur against Helena Carr, wife of former NSW Premier, Bob Carr. It is suggested that, in addition to the dramatic events of the last few days, an article in to-day's Daily Telegraph may have precipitated Brogden's attempt at self-harm. This story is said to be unsourced and uncollaborated. It appears to be stack upon stack of gossip.
Politics - and I have worked in and close to the profession - is dangerous territory. It is dangerous not only because of some of the personality types who are attracted to the profession but also because of the perceptions of those around them who may treat them deferentially for various reasons: attraction of power, self-interest and self-advancement. There is also opportunity for infidelity or promiscuity because of the sort of hours and mobility involved in carrying out political duties - not to mention the wide range of people who come into one's world. They are open to continuing scrutiny by the public and the media. They are continually under pressure from the demands of their constituencies and the competition within their own parties as well as competition with their political opponents. And there is the matter of their personal and family lives.
Brogden is not the only politician to have attempted suicide as a release from great pressure. Nick Sherry and Greg Wilton, two members of the Federal Parliament, have tried - the first unsuccessfully; the second, sadly, successfully. Nick Sherry was found in time and has recovered and gone on to rebuild his political career. A remarkable effort.
I have posted previously on the matter of public forgiveness. You can see these here, here, here, and here. I am concerned once again - how public figures achieve forgiveness, how a way forward is found following very public apologies. I believe that time is an important and necessary factor in forgiveness and healing. There was precious little time to bring this into John Brogden's life in an effective manner before he committed self-harm. But then there was no public record or history of forgiveness to contemplate, to consider for the future. There are examples such as Nick Sherry. There are political comebacks. But for grave public shaming, what is the recourse for the individual?
