When you do something too often, it looses its value

[Baruch Menachem]

Another perspective on the Apologies of Barack Obama over the years and how it relates to the events this week.....
Victor Davis Hanson

One rare apology might in theory make things safer for Americans; lots of them in fact make things more dangerous for our troops. In general, if you apologize gratuitously when there is no need, remorse loses its currency in the rare cases when it might be necessary. All this saying “we are sorry” has also energized our enemies as much as it has depressed the public at home. Here’s why.

The rioting and killing over the burned Korans are not just over issues of religious desecration. Of course, ostensibly in sensitive hearts-and-minds counter-insurgency operations in a Muslim nation, soldiers must be more careful. In addition to protecting themselves, killing the enemy, and rebuilding communities, they must worry about issues that not only have not arisen in most other theaters (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, Panama, Grenada, etc.), but have not arisen at other eras in which Americans worked with Muslims (I doubt that George Patton’s Seventh Army in Tunisia worried too much about the contents of their burn dumps;

Essentially he argues that if you apologies all the time for everything, apologies become valueless. An apology only counts if you are going to do changes in the future. Just tossing off lip service any time anything happens does not lesson the offense, but ads insult to the injury. If indeed there is an injury. Apologizing if there is an injury or not makes you appear both weak and flippant and rude.

As usual, a very good article.

 

[72VirginCamels]

Another perspective on the Apologies of Barack Obama over the years and how it relates to the events this week.....
Victor Davis Hanson

One rare apology might in theory make things safer for Americans; lots of them in fact make things more dangerous for our troops. In general, if you apologize gratuitously when there is no need, remorse loses its currency in the rare cases when it might be necessary. All this saying “we are sorry” has also energized our enemies as much as it has depressed the public at home. Here’s why.

The rioting and killing over the burned Korans are not just over issues of religious desecration. Of course, ostensibly in sensitive hearts-and-minds counter-insurgency operations in a Muslim nation, soldiers must be more careful. In addition to protecting themselves, killing the enemy, and rebuilding communities, they must worry about issues that not only have not arisen in most other theaters (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, Panama, Grenada, etc.), but have not arisen at other eras in which Americans worked with Muslims (I doubt that George Patton’s Seventh Army in Tunisia worried too much about the contents of their burn dumps;

Essentially he argues that if you apologies all the time for everything, apologies become valueless. An apology only counts if you are going to do changes in the future. Just tossing off lip service any time anything happens does not lesson the offense, but ads insult to the injury. If indeed there is an injury. Apologizing if there is an injury or not makes you appear both weak and flippant and rude.

As usual, a very good article.

Well put Baruch. Basically emphasizing that this president is totally clueless when it comes to understanding the mentality of these people. Simply put, apologies and calls fornegotiations and "talks" is often looked upon as a SIGN OF WEAKNESS. It's just the way their mindset works.

 

[Katzndogz]

I've heard many Americans say this, even some on the left.

The war in Afghanistan is not just predicated on winning hearts and minds there, but winning them here too; obsequiousness abroad might in theory win a brief respite, but it will most certainly ensure that most Americans at home are so exasperated as to sigh, “I’ve got enough problems without trying to help people who prefer living in the 7th century.”

 

[Mr. H.]

I've always had loose values.

 

[jillian]

Another perspective on the Apologies of Barack Obama over the years and how it relates to the events this week.....
Victor Davis Hanson

One rare apology might in theory make things safer for Americans; lots of them in fact make things more dangerous for our troops. In general, if you apologize gratuitously when there is no need, remorse loses its currency in the rare cases when it might be necessary. All this saying “we are sorry” has also energized our enemies as much as it has depressed the public at home. Here’s why.

The rioting and killing over the burned Korans are not just over issues of religious desecration. Of course, ostensibly in sensitive hearts-and-minds counter-insurgency operations in a Muslim nation, soldiers must be more careful. In addition to protecting themselves, killing the enemy, and rebuilding communities, they must worry about issues that not only have not arisen in most other theaters (e.g., Korea, Vietnam, Haiti, Panama, Grenada, etc.), but have not arisen at other eras in which Americans worked with Muslims (I doubt that George Patton’s Seventh Army in Tunisia worried too much about the contents of their burn dumps;

Essentially he argues that if you apologies all the time for everything, apologies become valueless. An apology only counts if you are going to do changes in the future. Just tossing off lip service any time anything happens does not lesson the offense, but ads insult to the injury. If indeed there is an injury. Apologizing if there is an injury or not makes you appear both weak and flippant and rude.

As usual, a very good article.

yah...it's "valueless" when this president does it, but was peachy keen when shrub did it.

okie dokie.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I imagine you get swatted down by judges for leading the witness a lot during trial, Jillian. The statement is what the statement is. Hansen did note that he thought Bush overdid id too. So it was not ok then.


The issue is not it being ok for one guy and not the other... The issue here is both of them overdid, and now we are reaping the consequences of treating the matter lightly