By Cheryl Mattox Berry
For a minute, I thought lexicographers had removed the word “sorry” from the dictionary, and I missed the memo.
The Melania Trump speech debacle is the latest example of how some people refuse to take responsbility for their actions and let others take the blame because they don’t want to look bad.
Lying isn’t a good look either.
For a day, the Trump campaign had us thinking that we were deaf and blind for believing that Melania’s speech was lifted from first lady Michelle Obama’s address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
Typical Trump campaign strategy: deny and attack.
Then, staffers did a turnabout and admitted passages were taken from Obama’s speech. Apparently, the Trumps didn’t care that they were setting a poor example for their kids and grandkids by denying Melania’s plagiarism.
As a child, I was taught to apologize when you stepped on someone’s toes, interrupted their conversation or committed some other mishap. However, apologies are hard to come by these days from children and adults.
People blame everything and everybody but themselves. They mistakenly think that admitting you’re wrong is a sign of weakness. However, it’s just the opposite. Saying “I’m sorry” shows that you’re human and big enough to know that you don’t always get it right.
Coming clean also clears the air so that you can move forward. It’s difficult working with someone when you question their integrity. You’re constantly doing things to cover yourself knowing that one day it might come back on you.
The proverb, “Honesty is the best policy,” needs to make a viral comeback and not just for Baby Boomers. Millennials, in particular, need to be taught that it’s okay to admit that you’ve made a mistake. Trying to cover it up just makes matters worse.
I’m woman enough to say “I’m sorry,” are you?