Quote:
Originally Posted by donkevlar
What the FUCK is the point of an apology from the government? How can a huge group of people all be apologetic just because they decided to say it on the news?
I don't accept the apology. Just stop doing terrible shit.
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This sort of thing is just part of the dance that is international diplomacy.
When the U.S. government is trying to "normalize" relations with a country that we have a rocky diplomatic relationship with, these sorts of apologies often are part of the bargain. I'm not saying it makes sense (or works), just that this is the intent of making such "official" apologies.
It's very much like the apology issued to Iran in the 90s, in which Bill Clinton officially acknowledged the CIA's role in the coup there in 1953. I don't suspect that Clinton thought for one instant that the apology was going to make the average Iranian say "How thoughtful of you, all is forgiven, then." It was just part of an attempt to get the powers-that-be in Iran to warm up to the idea of talking to the U.S. and come to the negotiating table again -- sort of a diplomatic "ice breaker," if you will.
Of course... that
particular apology appears to have come up a
little short of its desired effect, in retrospect. ;-)