HOLD
THE APOLOGY

Topics: Accountability; Apology; Conflict; Cursing; Forgiveness; Hypocrisy; Insensitivity; Reconciliation; Remorse; Sincerity; Speech; Tongue; Words

References: Psalm 32:5; Matthew 6:14–15; Ephesians 4:32; James 3:1–12; 5:12

Insincere apologies may be worse than none. Take note:

“It has come to the editor’s attention that the Herald-Leader neglected to cover the civil rights movement. We regret the omission” (July 4, 2004). [The Herald-Leader of Lexington, Kentucky, apologizing for the forty-year-old policies of the paper to relegate the coverage of sit-ins, marches, and the like to brief mentions in a column called “Colored Notes.”]

“The comment was not meant to be a regional slur. To the extent that it was misinterpreted to be one, I apologize” (October 17, 2003). [Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Taylor, apologizing for referring to potential jurors in the Eastern Kentucky Mountains as “illiterate cave-dwellers.”]

“I really, from the very bottom of my heart, want to apologize for statements I made about Christianity. I did it mainly out of frustration. At one time or another, I’ve offended almost every group. I’m sure I’ll be apologizing again” (June 13, 1990). [CNN founder Ted Turner, apologizing for repeatedly calling Christianity “a religion for losers.”]

—Paul Slansky and Arleen Sorkin, My Bad (Bloomsbury USA, 2006); “Unconvincing Apologies,” The Week (June 9, 2006)