Some people think apologizing is a sign of weakness. In fact, it’s the weak and the scared who are too insecure to apologize.

Did you know doctors who are willing to apologize to their patients for their mistakes are sued for malpractice about half as much as doctors who aren’t willing to apologize. And after the massacres in Rwanda, these murderers stood up and said “I’m sorry for killing your entire family”. And most of the time, simply saying “I’m sorry” was enough. That’s the power of an apology.

Arrogance, and the mindset of thinking you’re always right and you have nothing to apologize for is a dangerous place to be. An apology isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of respect and maturity, even among the most arrogant people in this world.

The same holds true for countries, not just people. No nation in the history of Earth has been perfect, not even America. But some Americans believe that apologizing for our history will make the USA look weak to the rest of the world, when really it only makes America look weak to THEM, because they’re scared.

“President X can apologize for himself, but don’t apologize for me or for America because I have nothing to be sorry for”. But you’re part of this country too, just like I am and just like President X is. While you and I weren’t personally involved in slavery or killing the Indians or putting Japanese-Americans into internment camps, it’s a part of our history because it’s a part of American’s history. We might have rationalized doing these things out of fear, but fear is not a valid excuse for refusing to apologize.

Apologies can do great things and they can enable great things. And if you don’t believe I have three words for you: Make-up sex
-Bill Maher