huh..Apologies simply aren't what they used to be.

Apologies simply aren't what they used to be.

An apology used to be sincere.

An apology used to be productive,

not merely another societal require¬ment forced upon the wrongdoer,

rendering it ineffective, unnecessary and a waste of time.

If the one whO committed the act,

whether it is interrupting an innocent young singer in her Shining moment

or interrupting the president at a formal event,

doesn't feel the least bit of remorse for what he or she did,

then the apology is nothing more than a con.


But it's hardly, a surprise given.

the values in which our country indulges --

succulent scandal and unconstructive controversy.

Tile Tequila, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels,

The Real World, Perez Hilton— need I say more? Yes?

Well here are a few closer to home: ThDirty and the deceased Juicy Campus•

If this is the entertainment we demand, then this is what the attention seekers will supply; they're very dependable in that way.

Within the last two weeks a handful of these attention seekers have provided us with this so- called entertainment.

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. heckled`President Barack °barna, Serena Williams verbally attacked a referee and Kanye West interrupted Taylor Swift's first MTV Video Music, Awards acceptance speech.

Though a seemingly randomn group, Wilson, Williams and West are intertwined in many ways': they all blamed their outbursts on irre¬pressible passion;

they all gained attention and support from their tirades;

and they all presented insincere apologies.


On Sept. 9, Wilson interrupted Obama's speech explaining his health care reform bill to Congress;

yelling,"You lie!"

Though Wilson's office issued an apology and Wilson called the White House, he makes clear in a promotional video (found on Joe Wilson For Congress.com)

that his childish outcry was merely symbolic of his undying ardor for the truth.


"On these issues, I will not be muzzled. I will speak up, and speak loudly, against this reckless plan,

"he declares in the,video.

By recasting himself as the victim,

Wilson has raised around $1 million since the incident, ac¬cording to CBS News.


• Williams lashed out at a line judge at the U.S.* Open on Sept; 12 for calling a foot fault on one of Williams' serves.

Even as this outburst tookplace, among the t" boos were cheers supporting her inappropriate conduct.


According to the Los Angeles Times, it was only

( in Williams' follow-up statement on Monday, 0, two days later,

that Williams issued an apology for her actions. •