Does Saying I'm Sorry Make Everything All Right
Judy Ramsook
November 29, 2006
Most people are in control of their actions or use of the spoken word most of the time. Others (not everyone) who may fall victim to legal or illegal substances, alcohol, high emotions such as anger, deep sadness and or extreme cases of jubilation can indeed let the spoken word get the better of them, especially if those words fall upon those who are offended by what was said or spoken.
For example, openly criticizing some one in a public setting can provoke the one being criticized to saying things he might find him/herself later apologizing for, as was the recent incident involving Michael Richards. Also when Michael Irving, former wide receiver of the Dallas Cowboys said that new starting quarterback (Tony Romo) for the same team, Tony Romo’s athletic ability was due to some long lost African ancestry link, he, Irving also apologized after it was realized that his comment was offensive.
These are only two instances, but does this apology thing mean that people are now free to offend whom they may hoping that an apology will make smooth amends? Is this some sort of new trend?
And is it seen as as easy way out of offending thousands even millions of people? I thought this was the age of political correctness; an age in which some one, especially if he/she happened to be a celebrity or public figure had to exercise diplomacy when placed in a public setting, radio, tv, magazine, newspaper or internet interview.
Now it seems as though the words ‘I’m sorry’ is the new form of diplomacy. Given after, of course, the speaker has offended those who took offense to his words.
Maybe it is just me, but in a fit of anger once, I did manage to offend a good friend who later told me after an apology was offered, that saying ‘I’m sorry’ was only words.
And just because some one offers an apology after offending some one does not necessarily mean the person doing the apologizing is truly sorry.
After that incident I became more cautious of what I said to whom, for I did not want to hurt any one else. But the human condition is and will continue to be a mystery as long as there are people on this planet.
I don’t know why some people knowingly offend others, but they do, that is until the next opportunity arises for the offender to say ‘I’m sorry’ comes along and makes all right with the world once again.
For example, openly criticizing some one in a public setting can provoke the one being criticized to saying things he might find him/herself later apologizing for, as was the recent incident involving Michael Richards. Also when Michael Irving, former wide receiver of the Dallas Cowboys said that new starting quarterback (Tony Romo) for the same team, Tony Romo’s athletic ability was due to some long lost African ancestry link, he, Irving also apologized after it was realized that his comment was offensive.
These are only two instances, but does this apology thing mean that people are now free to offend whom they may hoping that an apology will make smooth amends? Is this some sort of new trend?
And is it seen as as easy way out of offending thousands even millions of people? I thought this was the age of political correctness; an age in which some one, especially if he/she happened to be a celebrity or public figure had to exercise diplomacy when placed in a public setting, radio, tv, magazine, newspaper or internet interview.
Now it seems as though the words ‘I’m sorry’ is the new form of diplomacy. Given after, of course, the speaker has offended those who took offense to his words.
Maybe it is just me, but in a fit of anger once, I did manage to offend a good friend who later told me after an apology was offered, that saying ‘I’m sorry’ was only words.
And just because some one offers an apology after offending some one does not necessarily mean the person doing the apologizing is truly sorry.
After that incident I became more cautious of what I said to whom, for I did not want to hurt any one else. But the human condition is and will continue to be a mystery as long as there are people on this planet.
I don’t know why some people knowingly offend others, but they do, that is until the next opportunity arises for the offender to say ‘I’m sorry’ comes along and makes all right with the world once again.
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