There are a million and one ways to say something stupid, or do something stupid. That’s what free will get you.
There is really only one way to apologize for saying or doing something stupid.
Before I get to that, I want to look at why apologizing seems to be so difficult.
Little children have trouble apologizing because they are embarrassed at being called out. Kids don’t like to stand out in a crowd or be singled out in even a small setting. They hate apologizing, which is why a curt “Sorry!” is sometimes the best they can do.
Adults never like admitting they were wrong. They know they can’t get away with a childish “Sorry!” So they equivoc-ate and hesit-ate and fluctu-ate—anything to keep from eating crow. Any excuse they can come up with is better than admitting guilt.
Politicians are in a class by themselves. They’re obviously adults, so they got that going against them, but their success depends on them having all the answers, always doing the right thing, and most importantly, always looking good. Politicians are convinced that admitting a mistake is worse than making a mistake and is always a bad look. They might be adults, but they are acting like children.
Our president has never apologized for anything in his life. He doesn’t see the need to because he has never done anything wrong.
For a man who has never been wrong, he apparently surrounds himself with people that can do nothing right. He is forever calling out those around him for the sins he commits.
He can be excused because he is nothing more than a child in a seventy-four year old body. He is actually worse than a child because he can’t even say “Sorry!” and walk away.
So, we have a president who believes he is always right and enabling politicians unable to call him out when he’s wrong. No one apologizes for anything.
If only, someone could show them the way.
Fortunately, now there is.
Recently General Mark A. Milley did something very unbecoming of the highest ranking military man in the country. He allowed himself to be used by the president for an obviously political photo-op. Making matters worse, the senseless show he participated in resulted in peaceful protesters being physically abused, a Bible being desecrated, and a church being high-jacked for political gains.
Everything about it was wrong and everyone told him so.
He could have made excuses: The president is my commander. I was only obeying an order. It didn’t seem wrong at the time.
He could have feigned ignorance at the damage he did: If I offended anyone, I’m sorry. It was a confusing time, and I must have gotten caught up in the confusion. I thought we were simply going to inspect the troops.
General Milley didn’t say any of these things. That’s because you don’t become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by acting like a child, or making excuses, or worrying about your image, or behaving like our president. You get there by knowing right from wrong and not being afraid to admit when you’ve done something wrong.
Everyone makes mistakes. Even generals. Even presidents.
Especially this president.
This is how General Milley apologized.
“I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from.”
This is what a good apology sounds like. It’s also what separates the men from the boys.
There is really only one way to apologize for saying or doing something stupid.
Before I get to that, I want to look at why apologizing seems to be so difficult.
Little children have trouble apologizing because they are embarrassed at being called out. Kids don’t like to stand out in a crowd or be singled out in even a small setting. They hate apologizing, which is why a curt “Sorry!” is sometimes the best they can do.
Adults never like admitting they were wrong. They know they can’t get away with a childish “Sorry!” So they equivoc-ate and hesit-ate and fluctu-ate—anything to keep from eating crow. Any excuse they can come up with is better than admitting guilt.
Politicians are in a class by themselves. They’re obviously adults, so they got that going against them, but their success depends on them having all the answers, always doing the right thing, and most importantly, always looking good. Politicians are convinced that admitting a mistake is worse than making a mistake and is always a bad look. They might be adults, but they are acting like children.
Our president has never apologized for anything in his life. He doesn’t see the need to because he has never done anything wrong.
For a man who has never been wrong, he apparently surrounds himself with people that can do nothing right. He is forever calling out those around him for the sins he commits.
He can be excused because he is nothing more than a child in a seventy-four year old body. He is actually worse than a child because he can’t even say “Sorry!” and walk away.
So, we have a president who believes he is always right and enabling politicians unable to call him out when he’s wrong. No one apologizes for anything.
If only, someone could show them the way.
Fortunately, now there is.
Recently General Mark A. Milley did something very unbecoming of the highest ranking military man in the country. He allowed himself to be used by the president for an obviously political photo-op. Making matters worse, the senseless show he participated in resulted in peaceful protesters being physically abused, a Bible being desecrated, and a church being high-jacked for political gains.
Everything about it was wrong and everyone told him so.
He could have made excuses: The president is my commander. I was only obeying an order. It didn’t seem wrong at the time.
He could have feigned ignorance at the damage he did: If I offended anyone, I’m sorry. It was a confusing time, and I must have gotten caught up in the confusion. I thought we were simply going to inspect the troops.
General Milley didn’t say any of these things. That’s because you don’t become Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by acting like a child, or making excuses, or worrying about your image, or behaving like our president. You get there by knowing right from wrong and not being afraid to admit when you’ve done something wrong.
Everyone makes mistakes. Even generals. Even presidents.
Especially this president.
This is how General Milley apologized.
“I should not have been there. My presence in that moment and in that environment created a perception of the military involved in domestic politics. As a commissioned uniformed officer, it was a mistake that I have learned from.”
This is what a good apology sounds like. It’s also what separates the men from the boys.
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