APOLOGY
FOR A FEE

Topics: Apology; Forgiveness; Reconciliation; Relationships

References: Matthew 5:23–24; 18:15–18; 1 John 1:9–10

“As a society, China lacks the spirit of apologizing,” says Zhou Xiaozheng, a sociology professor at People’s University in China. That difficulty has given rise to the Tianjin Apology and Gift Center, a company that delivers apologies and attempts to facilitate reconciliation. The company’s motto is “We Say Sorry for You.”

An apology in China involves a formal procedure and is a very stressful process for all concerned. Hence Zhou isn’t sure how long the Tianjin Apology and Gift Center will last. “In our increasingly commercialized society, people have the idea that you can pay money to others to do your work for you, and that includes apologizing,” he says. “But if you are sincere, you should go and apologize by yourself.”

—Elisabeth Rosenthal, “For a Fee, Chinese Firm Will Beg Pardon for Anyone,” The New York Times (January 3, 2001)