If there is one word that is over used in the English Language I believe it is sorry. Sorry is a hard word to use sincerely, but much easier to use to avoid an adverse reaction. Now I know we all use, or most people use the word sorry out of politeness; bumping into someone when in a crowded place or when you mis-dial and call someone by mistake. But for someone to say sorry and to mean it is another kettle of fish.
I for one, although it may appear ignorant, do not use sorry when I don't mean it. Work colleagues joke about this, but at the end of the day I am not going to say something I don't mean. I am not that sort of person. That doesn't mean I go out of my way to upset someone or wind another person up.
So why so much writing about one five letter word. Well the Government are refusing to say sorry about Britain's part in the slave industry. When I first read the article I thought that I had missed something and slavery was on the surge in Britain. In fact, Tony Blair is refusing to apologise for Britain's part in the slave industry over 200 years ago.
I can only guess what impact slavery has on people and the effect it has for generations. But, Tony Blair was not responsible for slavery, yes he is responsible for a lot of things I hope he would apologise for, but to my knowledge Tony Bllair was not responsible for slavery 200 years ago. If Tony had in anyway expressed his views, or passed laws that glorified slavery, then yes say sorry, because slavery is wrong.
It is down to the politicians at the time to be accountable. They are not a ive anymore and if they were, I wouldn't expect they would even express sorrow, as they did little to stop these horrid acts. It should not fall on the head of the current Government to say sorry.
Express sorrow, yes, but apologise, you can not apologise for something you played no part in.
PS I wrote this before I even noticed Nicholas Starling had also expressed similar views.
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