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Bravo, Governor Spitzer, for a frank apology!
By Lauren | March 13, 2008
By now, it’s old news that New York Governor Eliot Spitzer resigned earlier today in the wake of allegations linking him to a pricey prostitution ring. Having witnessed Governor Spitzer’s exit from office, I have to commend his apology to his family and the citizens of his state.
What did Spitzer do right?
For one thing, he didn’t equivocate. Spitzer refrained from the familiar tune of “if I offended anyone,” or “any offense I might have caused,” delivering a plain, flat-out ”I’m sorry” to his family and constituents. He didn’t duck responsibility, but openly admitted that he had failed to live up to the standards of his public and his family, expressing a regret that will last for the rest of his life. He accepted responsibility for his actions, and agreed to make amends by leaving public life and atoning to his family. Most important, Spitzer held himself to the same high standards that he has used to measure others, and didn’t hesitate to admit that he had fallen short.
Governor Spitzer isn’t out of the woods just yet. He still faces possible criminal charges and disbarment, and will undoubtedly have to spend many hours listening patiently as the people he hurt tell him, over and over again, how badly he violated their trust. He’ll be the target of painful criticism from people who are still angry over the heavy-handed methods he used when prosecuting corporate corruption as New York’s Attorney General. It may also be a while before Governor Spitzer can be sure that the people he injured have chosen to forgive him for what he did wrong.
As he left public life, Spitzer promised to “go forward with the belief, as others have said, that as human beings our greatest glory consists … not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” Today’s apology was a good first step.
Topics: Apologies, Personal Ethics |