Sometimes there’s nothing more sorry than an apology.
Wouldn’t it be nice if, just once, a public figure refused to say “I’m sorry”?
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Sometimes there’s nothing more sorry than an apology.
Grand public groveling sessions have become a disingenuous part of our society’s fabric. We have learned to expect an uncomfortable press conference every time a public figure slips up (or is perceived to have slipped up). It has gotten ridiculous.
The most recent of these events was held yesterday. Miami Marlins manager, Ozzie Guillen stepped up to the podium to apologize for speaking favorably about the tenacity of Cuban President, Fidel Castro.
Miami is a place hundreds of thousands of Cubans call home. Many fled there to escape Communism and the tryanny of Castro. To these people, the cigar-chomping Cuban leader is as vile an historic figure as Adolph Hitler.
The favorable things Ozzie Guillen said about Castro were ill-advised to be certain. He should have realized that, now that he was working in Florida, it would not be wise to mention the man at all. Still, he said nothing that isn’t true. He made no commentary on Castro’s policies and in no way endorsed him.
All Guillen said – and I am paraphrasing – was that Castro was a tough son of a bitch and that Guillen kind of admires that about him. Despite the various efforts made to dethrone him and to kill him, Castro still rules. Honestly, I can see where Ozzie was coming from.
It’s akin to saying that Adolph Hitler was a strong public speaker. It may not be something people want to hear – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
Guillen had to apologize. But he shouldn’t have had to.
Why should a grown man beg our forgiveness for exercising his right to speak his mind? It’s ridiculous – especially when that man is Guillen, who was hired by the Marlins expressly because he’s as popular as he is controversial.
Ozzie should have clarified his thoughts and done nothing more. In this instance the onus should have been on the people of Miami to try and understand the meaning of Guillen’s words rather than on him to say he was sorry. He wasn’t sorry.
Guillen still believes what he believes. His mind hasn’t been changed. He doesn’t now think that Fidel Castro is a pussy. Why the song and dance? Why not come out and say “look, this is what I said, this is what I meant by it and I AM NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE!”?
It’s not hard to understand why people might be hypersensitive about praise being heaped on a ruthless leader who has enjoyed absolute power at the expense of his countrymen. But nothing Guillen said was even the slightest bit controversial once one actually hears his words. The problem is that we only hear what we want to hear. Many people in Miami – the ones who are the most upset – only heard one word: “Castro”.
Some folks have demanded that the Marlins fire Guillen over the comments. Isn’t it ironic that people so upset about Castro’s tyranny would react like such tyrants themselves?
According to CBS News: “Francis Suarez, chairman of the Miami city commission, said Guillen should be fired, and Joe Martinez, chairman of the Miami-Dade county board of commissioners, called on him to resign.” This kind of knee-jerk reaction and public posturing is typical of politicians – especially ones with a populist agenda. Their behavior is far more unconscionable than Guillen’s comments.
Ozzy was in a poor place to make a stand. He’s newly employed by the Marlins. It’s understandable that he complied with the organization’s wishes by being contrite.
It would be nice, though, if just once someone like Guillen refused to back down.
