“I feel deeply and sincerely in a way that no words can properly convey the grief and sorrow of those who lost ones they loved in Iraq,” bleated the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Responding to the Chilcot Inquiry, which investigated Britain’s role in the Iraq War, Blair claimed “I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you may ever know.” This was swiftly followed by “…if I was back in the same place with the same information, I would take the same decision.”
As apologies go, it didn’t really cut the mustard. In fact, it failed to come within miles of Dijon.
Whether or not Blair should be held to blame, his mealy-mouthed apology is symptomatic of today’s society – whereby everyone apologises but no one is sorry.
None of us likes to say the word “sorry.”
“I was wrong” is famously as difficult to utter as “I am an alcoholic.”
People instead express “regret” or, like Blair, issue an “apology.”
Yet there are many occasions when a hearty dose of mea culpa is required.
Plato started it in 360 BC when he told of how Socrates defended himself against charges of corruption and blasphemy.
But today, with the rise of technology and the ease with which we can access information, more and more public figures are caught in situations that require explanation, and subsequent public apologies – some more genuine than others.
Former US president Bill Clinton issued a statement of regret (not an apology) following the exposure of his extramarital dalliance with White House intern Monica Lewinksy.
“Indeed I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate. In fact, it was wrong… I misled people, including even my wife. I deeply regret that.”
Not exactly the most repentant sorry in the world.
Tiger Woods, the former golf world champion, gave similar spiel (again, without saying “sorry”) under similar circumstances: “I have let my family down, and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.”
A year ago British politician Lord Sewel, who was filmed snorting what appeared to be recreational drugs in the company of two prostitutes while dressed in women’s underwear, similarly recognised that his behaviour breached the House of Lords Code of Conduct, and duly “apologised” with no mention of the S-word: “I want to apologise for the pain and embarrassment I have caused,” he said at the time.
Saying “sorry” is a serious matter. “Apologising” eschews responsibility while recognising unfavourable behaviour or actions.
We live in a society where apologies and statements of regret are meaninglessly injected into political parlance in an attempt to appease the masses.
It is time all of us, from the politicians to the proletariat, owned up, came clean, and said “sorry” – when of course, it’s called for.