Sometimes I think the simple words, "I'm Sorry" is enough.

Instead of these long-winded apology statements that seem to dig a deeper hole. They turn into non-apology apologies statements.

and the words are empty.

men have been saying I'm sorry for centuries.

until recent times, women had to accept it.

forgiving them seems a hard habit to break.

And long-winded apologies are certainly just as easy. For example...

Last year two of my good friends, who had been a couple since before I'd known them, broke up. The guy was devastated. A few months later I started going out with the girl. We didn't tell the guy. He'd moved and I didn't have much contact with him at that point, but he was still my friend. When the girl and I eventually split up a few months later, I decided to tell him about what had happened. It shouldn't have happened, and I should have told him in the first place, obviously. So I composed a long letter, explaining everything that had happened and why, and how I had managed to do something so shitty and stupid. But in the end I threw this letter out and opted to say, very simply, "The reason you haven't heard from me is because <girl> and I started seeing each other after you broke up, but it's over now. I'm sorry. I was selfish when I should have been your friend, and I hope we can be friends again."

I *wanted* to explain in great detail how I, his friend, had managed to do this terribly dishonorable and selfish thing, but that would have been nothing more than an attempt to justify it in my own mind. It would definitely have been easier, emotionally speaking, to send the tell-all letter, but sometimes a simple apology is the best thing.

And for the record, he accepted my apology, and we saved the long-winded bitching about <girl> until after we'd re-established our friendship.

I've learned that the hard way.

And you're right, when you MUST write, short and simple is usually a far better choice.

One of the biggest life lessons I've learned in the last decade is how to apologize, sincerely and in person, for mistakes I've made. Well, not so much apologizing really as being able to admit responsibility - the apology follows from that. It's really empowering. I really do sympathize with people who make excuses or blame their problems on other people. They're their own worst enemies, really.

nt

and conditional punitive forgiveness, instead of just forgiving and moving forward.

Especially about shit that doesn't fucking matter, except to the people involved.

If Person A is willing to forgive Person B for wrongs committed against Person A, then I, Person C, have no option but to accept Person A's position and shut the fuck up.

And, I absolutely abhor cheating in a marriage or committed relationship. Too many families are destroyed by it.

1. Was either being blackmailed, or

2. He missed her enough to risk his marraige and the VP-ship to see her - knowing that the NE was on the case.

There is something very odd going on here. I seriously doubt that he missed her.

I think that is a distinct possibility.

which is really what he's sorry about.

Where is our humanity?

Yes, he's sorry he got caught. Who wouldn't be?

But I don't think that is the only thing he is sorry for.

if you want to feel sorry, feel sorry for all the people that backed him for prez. think how they feel.

Do you want to know how I feel?

Hurt. Embarrassed. Suckered. Mad. Sad. All in the course of a single minute.

No one should feel sorry for me though. This is the price you pay when your idols fall. I don't regret one minute of the last 5 years that I spent supporting this man. But I have learned a lesson about falling in love (figuratively) with politicians.

I save my sympathies for Elizabeth and their children. That is who I feel sorry for.

I just don't believe in kicking someone when they are already down. And I believe that this is one of the core problems that Democrats have. Some, not all, seem to enjoy getting in that last kick. Instead, we should be circling the wagons.

I save my kicks for Republicans.

IMHO

or who they are as people.

And if they feel miserable and shit-upon, all I can say to them is to stop expecting the people you admire to be perfect, and expect them, instead, to be the human beings they are, with all the faults and foibles that all of have within us.

I don't discard a human being just because they did something wrong, no matter how heinous (except, I suppose, genocide - I think I can draw a line there).

He cheated. He lied. He got caught. I have no pity for him whatsoever.