This is prompted by hearing that Bridget Phillipson is to apologise to the victims of forced adoption in the 1940s-70s, but this use of apologise has given me pause for thought before.
IMO apologising is admitting some degree of personal responsibility or involvement which I don't think can be passed on or inherited.
So it seems inappropriate, even a bit glib, for politicians to be apologising for things that happened before they were born. It must be possible to find a form of words expressing deep regret at what happened and sounding sincere.
I'm not sure that victim is the right word either but less easy to think of an alternative.
Gransnet forums
News & politics
Join the conversation
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »

