June 16, 2005
Apology? For What For Pete's Sake?
a·pol·o·gy, n. pl. a·pol·o·gies: An acknowledgment expressing regret or asking pardon for a fault or offense.
The Washington Post article by Avis Thomas-Lester begins:
The U.S. Senate last night approved a resolution apologizing for its failure to enact federal anti-lynching legislation decades ago, marking the first time the body has apologized for the nation's treatment of African Americans.One-hundred and five years after the first anti-lynching bill was proposed by a black congressman, senators approved by a voice vote Resolution 39, which called for the lawmakers to apologize to lynching victims, survivors and their descendants, several of whom watched from the gallery.
What is wrong with this picture? An apology, to be sincere must be accompanied by at least a couple of things. One, it must be for an offense that you have committed. Two, it must be accompanied by an honest and sincere effort not to repeat the offense. Last, but not by any means least the person you apologize to has to be the person you offended. Anything else is an exercise in self flagelation that serves no useful purpose.
This United States Senate, has not failed to enact anti-lynching laws, past senates did, but no living, serving member of this Senate has done so. So apologizing is Clintonesque at best, and bad theater at any rate.
Do some senators have cause to apologize for real acts that they committed? Robert Byrd (D, W.Va) could apologize for attempting to derail the Civil Rights laws for one, where is the demand for that?
The fact remains that this apology is an exercise in futility, a 'look how kind I am'or a 'see how sensitive I can be' exercise. How disgusting. How Clintonesque!
If you really must apologize, use this form.
Update, two days prior to this post, LaShawn Barber posted on the 14th a terrific rant against this stupid item. She's Black, Conservative, Female and ...... oh, wait, her opinon doesn't count because she's "conservative."
Cross posted at the Wide Awakes
Posted by GM Roper at June 16, 2005 09:50 AM | TrackBackno, her opinion counts, but it represents about what, 10,11 percent of Black opinion?
I don't get the part about not having to apologize if there's no likelihood of doing the crime again though. That's kinda odd.
Posted by steve at June 16, 2005 08:09 PM
There are lots of cases in which the guilty culprits are now known. We cannot prosecute them as they are long deceased. So, here's the deal (please correct me if I got this wrong): some member of a federal, state, county or city police agency will take me into custody if they determine that my great-great grandfather was a horse thief (fill in any appropriate crime you like) and I will get the full weight of the law on my back. Seems fair, right? Uh, no.
BTW, if this is right, then I also want all the credit for anything my ancestors may have done in positive way....so I will be applying for mega dollars from the rest of you for that, OK?
The past, as lamentable as it is, is still the past. Wrongs, cannot truly be undone. Given that, we should attempt to learn from the errors of those who have gone before and attempt to be better people in the now. Does this seem too far-fetched to anyone?
Posted by tad at June 18, 2005 02:47 PM
