Apologies are Just Words

Have you become bored with the endless apologies* coming from celebrities and politicians? I certainly have. I'd prefer that they just shut up and quietly change their behavior if they truly think their behavior was bad and they think they can change. But, if they feel compelled to say something publicly I wish they would just admit that their personality is flawed (or that they are just plain dumb) and that given an opportunity they will probably make a fool of themselves again.

Which of the following statements would you rather hear?

• I sincerely apologize for my crude behavior. What I said and did is not at all like me. I don't know what happened. Perhaps it was the alcohol I consumed earlier. Perhaps something just snapped inside me. Perhaps it was the pressure I've been under lately. Whatever it was I assure you that is not me and it won't happen again.

• I do regret my crude behavior -- and I will regret it the next time it happens. Look people, I'm an imperfect person. I tend to lose control occasionally. In fact, I sometimes fly into a violent rage. I'm just thankful that I haven't permanently injured anyone -- yet. I sincerely wish that I could rid myself of this personality flaw but I have to admit that it's probably not going to happen. My best advice to you is that when I do go off, just get out of my way.

John Kerry, especially, should give up apologizing because he usually screws up the apology. He should follow Charlie Rangel's example. Rangel doesn't apologize because he knows that everyone knows his stupid statements are all politically motivated.

Why do Mel Gibson and Michael Richards feel the need to apologize to the world when their offensive remarks were made before only a few people? The most they should do is issue a statement saying that they have apologized privately to the people they offended and that's all they will be saying on the matter. I don't buy the proposition that everything a celebrity does is a public matter. But mostly I just don't care what they do or why they do it. Unless they do it to me or mine.  Then I will confront them personally.

I suspect that the weight people put on apologies comes from childhood. I've noticed that more and more parents appear to believe that forcing their children to apologize for bad behavior is punishment enough. I'm afraid that this just teaches children that they can get away with anything as long as they are willing to apologize. Children know that apologies are just words.

*For a summary of some apologies from the past year see Kathleen Parker's recent column at Townhall.com.

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