I have never been an exponent of the apologia. As I have written previously the apology is one phase in the Christian redemption cycle. It is a big step on the road to the Promised Land.
As such, I have long viewed the apology as more benefiting the wrongdoer than the victim. Of course, this view was reinforced for me in my courtroom experiences, the criminals who apologize, beg forgiveness, ask for mercy, pray for leniency, hope to escape punishment. The Anglo-American legal system is founded upon King James' Bible.
In fixing responsibility, bringing closure, the apology does do some good. That is a limited good right there. It does not undo the act. The acts. We Baby Boomers had the Promised Land and gave it to the Russians. We don't get a second one. David Morgan's apology was clearly sincere, anguished, guilt-ridden, the best kind of apology. As was mine, written to my children, on the morning after the Catastrophe. I spent three days in bed. Our children accept our apologies, tell us we don't have to apologize, tell us they forgive us now that we insist on apologizing but now, we will forgive them, they have to get on with fixing the train wreck we left them. David Morgan asks the key question, "What can we do now?", right at the very beginning of his apology but he does not answer it, not in the 2:16 of that video. I have asked myself that question. Given what I have already done I think the best thing to do is to stop doing. I have decided to do nothing proactive and to take orders. Lift that box, tote that bale. Tell me what to do, kids, and I'll do it, just don't ask me what to do. I don't know and I never did.
As such, I have long viewed the apology as more benefiting the wrongdoer than the victim. Of course, this view was reinforced for me in my courtroom experiences, the criminals who apologize, beg forgiveness, ask for mercy, pray for leniency, hope to escape punishment. The Anglo-American legal system is founded upon King James' Bible.
In fixing responsibility, bringing closure, the apology does do some good. That is a limited good right there. It does not undo the act. The acts. We Baby Boomers had the Promised Land and gave it to the Russians. We don't get a second one. David Morgan's apology was clearly sincere, anguished, guilt-ridden, the best kind of apology. As was mine, written to my children, on the morning after the Catastrophe. I spent three days in bed. Our children accept our apologies, tell us we don't have to apologize, tell us they forgive us now that we insist on apologizing but now, we will forgive them, they have to get on with fixing the train wreck we left them. David Morgan asks the key question, "What can we do now?", right at the very beginning of his apology but he does not answer it, not in the 2:16 of that video. I have asked myself that question. Given what I have already done I think the best thing to do is to stop doing. I have decided to do nothing proactive and to take orders. Lift that box, tote that bale. Tell me what to do, kids, and I'll do it, just don't ask me what to do. I don't know and I never did.
