Personally, I don't think you should apologize if you don't think you have something to apologize for. Or if you DO want to apologize, you make it about you. Examples:
"I didn't mean to slight anyone, but I am sorry I chose to read that passage."
or
"I did not mean any offense and I did not anticipate this, but I am sorry my speech insulted you."
I mean, I'm not saying that the Pope needs to be all over the fact that people got upset. I mean, people get upset all the time, even when other people have the best intentions. Let's say, for example, my sister was pregnant. (I don't have a sister, but whatever.) And you heard about it and in 3 weeks you see me and you say, "You're going to be a great auntie!" And let's say my sister just had a miscarriage and I am devastated, and you feel REALLY bad. (Because you would. I know you would.) Do you think it would be better to say, "Shit, I'm sorry I said that, I didn't know," or "Shit, I'm sorry you're so upset." Which sounds more sincere?
I am not at all commenting one way or another on what the Pope said in his speech or even how people reacted to it. I have opinions on that (of course I do) and I am keeping them to myself. However, I still maintain that it was a poorly worded apology that comes off sounding insincere. And like a previous poster said, it probably was written by a PR person and probably didn't even come from the Pope at all.
But whatever. I stand by what I say. Whether the Pope or the PR dude chose to apologize in this way, it's a piss poor way to "apologize."
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Date: 2006-09-17 07:54 pm (UTC)"I didn't mean to slight anyone, but I am sorry I chose to read that passage."
or
"I did not mean any offense and I did not anticipate this, but I am sorry my speech insulted you."
I mean, I'm not saying that the Pope needs to be all over the fact that people got upset. I mean, people get upset all the time, even when other people have the best intentions. Let's say, for example, my sister was pregnant. (I don't have a sister, but whatever.) And you heard about it and in 3 weeks you see me and you say, "You're going to be a great auntie!" And let's say my sister just had a miscarriage and I am devastated, and you feel REALLY bad. (Because you would. I know you would.) Do you think it would be better to say, "Shit, I'm sorry I said that, I didn't know," or "Shit, I'm sorry you're so upset." Which sounds more sincere?
I am not at all commenting one way or another on what the Pope said in his speech or even how people reacted to it. I have opinions on that (of course I do) and I am keeping them to myself. However, I still maintain that it was a poorly worded apology that comes off sounding insincere. And like a previous poster said, it probably was written by a PR person and probably didn't even come from the Pope at all.
But whatever. I stand by what I say. Whether the Pope or the PR dude chose to apologize in this way, it's a piss poor way to "apologize."
I'm sorry if you're mad about what I said. ;)