Dear Editor,
I wish to respectfully counter Robert Towers’ well-articulated stance against a State honours system, as expressed in his missive on the 9th of September.
From my observations, those who are truly pivotal to our society never seem to pursue recognition or accolades. Their actions are motivated by an inherent altruism that, I believe, would be somewhat tainted should we try to rank and label it through an honours list mechanism.
In a society already riddled with disparities, it would surely be prudent not to introduce yet another aspect of difference. Furthermore, our republic has endured without such an honours system, and I see no pressing need to change that status quo.
Warm regards,
Robin Mandal,
Dublin 6.