Apology is More Than Saying "I'm Sorry" |TODAY|

Submitted by dan. on 2007-03-02 22:28.
Restorative Systems

Howard Zehr, in an article posted on Eastern Mennonite University News, responds to the Virginia legislature's bill apologizing for slavery: "An apology might include an explanation or account of what happened, but it must go further: "an apology begins where an account ends," says Nicholas Tauvis in his book Mea Culpia: A Sociology of Apology and Reconciliation. "

A genuine apology can be boiled down to this: take responsibility for the harm done by (1) naming the harm, (2) acknowledging that it was wrong, (3) expressing sincere regret, and (4) committing to avoid such harmful behavior in the future. This often prepares the way for forgiveness.

An apology might include an explanation or account of what happened, but it must go further: "an apology begins where an account ends," says Nicholas Tauvis in his book Mea Culpia: A Sociology of Apology and Reconciliation. That is, to truly apologize is to acknowledge that, regardless of the circumstances, one has no excuse or justification for what he or she has done.

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