Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Power of Apologies

According to most Christians, the only person who is a good candidate for never having needed to apologize, was Jesus Christ and even he asked his followers to forgive his Roman executioners. So when did it become a sign of weakness to apologize for mistakes or lapses in judgment? If it’s not a sign of weakness for individuals to do so, why is it a sign of weakness for nations to do the same? Apologizing does not equate to appeasement, nor to declining to defend self, home, family, community or nation. It is a means of reconciliation and harmonizing instead separating and antagonizing.

Only the ignorant and the disingenuous would claim that the United States of America has never made a mistake and cannot benefit from apologizing, even when there may be fault applicable to both parties. That is true in a marriage, in a partnership and among nations. It is not a sign of weakness or cowardice to apologize, it is a sign of courage, charity and strength. Only the confident and the secure are able to apologize.

Are some Americans so insecure or so ignorant about our place in history that they are threatened when leaders or individuals seek to apologize for our mistakes and misadventures?
Loren M Lambert © February 13, 2016

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