A very sorry state of affairs

Public figures are apologising left, right and centre. Sam Bowring says, stick it.

Now I don't know about you and, to be honest, I don't really want to - but I have to say that apologies from public figures matter less to me than the technicalities of doorknob importation laws. And I know they don't matter to me because lately there's been a spike in big apologies.

There's Hillary Clinton, who insinuated that the reason she flogged her dead horse of a campaign into a bloodied horsey pulp was because there was a chance Obama might get assassinated. Then there was Sharon Stone declaring that China suffered an earthquake killing thousands of innocent civilians as an act of karma for their government's action in Tibet. Yes, it seems that karma is a vengeful God.

After each of these questionable statements, the folks involved have come out and said, “Whoops! Sorry about that. Perhaps I should have considered my words for more than, like, one second.” I suppose words are considered ephemeral enough to be taken back when you make mistakes with them - unlike physical errors, like mixing colours with your whites, or running over your neighbour's goldfish.

But really these apologies aren't worth the paper they're printed on, let alone the salaries of the public relations professionals who draft them. All they reveal is that public figures are concerned with their public image and don't like getting caught on the wrong side of public opinion. Wow. So, what else is new? Is mistaking a colostomy bag for a saline drip bad for your health?

It's like a little boy being told to say sorry to his sister for kicking mud on her ankles. He apologises because mummy tells him to, but inside he remains unchanged. It's a ceremonial gesture only because, let's face it, kicking mud on little girls' ankles is about as fun as it gets.

That's why it's so refreshing when someone stands by their own ludicrous behaviour. I have to admire the New Zealand councillor who, on 'hoodie day' went to a council meeting dressed in a Ku Klux Klan outfit - I assume to make some kind of point. Now, while more people questioned the taste of this than a wine-tasting group being served mouse urine, the councillor dude stuck by his actions. Good on him, I say. Nice to see some friggin' backbone.

Anyway, that's my stance. If it offends, what can I say? I'm sorry.