In a stark contrast to the often brutal shaming that men in public office undergo as a result of infidelity, Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland, did all he could to protect his wife despite her infidelity. Not only did he suppress the story to save his wife, an MP, from “medical” issues, he has forgiven her and will take her back.
His wife, 60-year-old Iris Robinson, began an affair over a year ago, and is now blaming it on “mental illness.” Mr. Robinson has actually taken much of the blame, saying:
[...] Over time and on calmer reflection, I set her inappropriate behaviour against 40 years of bringing up our children – often alone.
Forty years of selflessly giving me the space to pursue my beliefs; of facing public pressure for the stand I was taking and having to live with the threats and dangers my position visited upon my family.
We have heard male politicians’ wives “forgive” their husbands in the Anglosphere, but I don’t think I can recall one single instance of the wife taking the blame for a spouse’s infidelity. This reflects the wider culture, which holds that men are guilty no matter who cheats in a marriage.
Mrs. Robinson, for her part, appears to be putting a lot more effort into garnering pity than actually apologizing to her husband:
During this period of mental illness I lost control of my life and did the worst thing that I have ever done. Over a year and a half ago, I was involved in a relationship.
It began completely innocently when I gave support to someone following a family death. I encouraged friends to assist him by providing financial support for a business venture.
Regrettably, the relationship later developed into a brief affair. It had no emotional or lasting meaning, but my actions have devastated my life, and the lives of those around me.
Sure, Iris. It didn’t mean anything — you were just “involved in a relationship” that “began completely innocently.” Of course, it was all because of the “mental illness.”
Too many men have heard it all before. As men, we have to remember that Mr. Robinson, despite his obvious deep pain, has a certain duty to uphold to society, and it does not include coddling his adulterous wife.
Perhaps our greatest failing as Western men is our pathetic weakness where women’s misbehavior is concerned. This tendency has put us in a bad place, and we’ve got to take a stand and declare that there is no virtue in giving cheating, destructive women license to wreck families and hurt people.
