An Open Letter to Mr Paul Gallen

This is a copy of a Letter that I sent to the Rugby League player, Paul Gallen.

The context is Paul's admission that he struck up a long distance letter friendship with the Convicted Australian Drug trafficker, Andrew Chan.

To often, we only criticise the modern sportsman; often ignoring when they do the right thing.

Here is my support for a "star" doing what I believe is "the right thing": 

7/05/15

C/O The Cronulla Sutherland RLFC

Dear Sir,

As the father of a Mad Cronulla Sutherland Sharks supporter, my son, is a fervent Paul Gallen fan & is playing in his first season of Junior Rugby League with the Bloomfield Tigers JRLFC (The Country Group 10 junior competition, under 8’s). He was most upset that he could not get the Number 13 jersey! (not being available in the under 8s competition). Given that my son is such a massive fan, I felt that I would take the time to write to you about your recent admission on the MMM football show, that you struck up a remote friendship with the convicted Australian Drug smuggler Andrew Chan.

Whilst Mr Chan & Mr Sukumaran were ultimately the victims of their own devices; they were fellow human beings. They were, (by all accounts) reformed & trying, in their own ways, to make the world a better place – I suppose, to an extent, they were atoning for their reckless & self-destructive pasts. I do not believe that the world is a better place because they are now dead.

Thus, I applaud your behaviour in relation to Andrew & treating him as a human being. Whilst it is easy to demonise anyone for their guilt, it is inspiring to see that you acted with the type of compassion that I would expect of a man, any fellow man, A REAL man,  when responding to another human being in a bad situation.

You acted with deep compassion & integrity. By tour actions you chose to become role model; the type of man that was sadly lacking from these guys lives; a man that, had he been there, perhaps could have prevented Andrew & Myuran from sliding down that awful path.

I feel that you have, very publicly, very correctly led by example & I congratulate you for this.

In relation to drugs, society has developed a very strong “moral code” that if broken causes much angst. This code is frequently hypocritical & forgets that the people involved & affected are still human, someone’s son or daughter, mother or Father, or, even grandparent. The argument of “Drugs are bad”, therefore “those involved are evil” does not quite work when you look at the individual men & women who are caught up in this maelstrom. Frequently, they are just “other people on the bus”. Prior to their executions, I saw the school boy pictures of these men & I thought of my children; I hope sincerely that my kids never end up in a similar situation. The heartbreak would be too much for a man like me. Against all this emotive arguments, you chose the compassionate path.

This is why I applaud your actions; you chose to be a man & exercise public compassion. You chose to help make the world a better place (in your own small way); by both offering the hand of friendship to a “sullied” individual, & by then not being ashamed of telling the community about that friendship.

Displaying Compassion is a character that I respect deeply in a man & in so doing; you have become a role model that I am proud to say that my son looks up to.

Best Regards

Leigh Meagher

(I Put my e-mail address here in the Original)

Note: I am not a convict, nor are any members of my family. Nor am I the holder of a hidden agenda; I just felt that you needed to be applauded for your act.