Making it’s rounds this morning is the story of Dan Rather. The former CBS news anchor is suing his former employer for $70 million and saying that he was forced into an apology he didn’t mean. Story
Here’s the deal. It doesn’t matter if the original story was true or false anymore… though Rather is wanting to use this opportunity to "vindicate" his position that the story was true. Perhaps you remember the story… Rather cited allegedly forged documents in saying that our current president was a poor performer in the Air National Guard. His point seemed to be, in the story, that if George W. Bush was a bad Air National Guard member he is a bad commander-in-chief. Even if those stories of a very young Bush were true the story was a low-blow and he should have apologized. What’s the point in dragging up a story from 30 years ago to attack someone? It was an attack story, he got busted, and he apologized.
That is, he apologized until he got fired. Apparently Rather thinks he has a right to a $24 million contract. Viacom, CBS’s parent company doesn’t think so. In their opinion, for $24 million they can put whoever they want as the news anchor. Just like they had the right to fire (and compensate, by the way) Dan Rather as their news anchor, they have the right to hire Katie Couric as their news anchor.
What is this really all about? It comes down to… "What does I’m sorry mean?"
Does it mean I’m sorry I got caught? Does it mean I’m sorry I embarrassed the company? Does it mean I’m sorry that I attacked the president of the United States? He said those words, he apologized, he was a grown man. Now he says he didn’t mean it. What kind of man is he? Is he a man or is he just a puppet?
Apparently he thinks he the kind of man who is worth $70 million.
Here’s the definition of apology:
a·pol·o·gy [uh–pol–uh-jee] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation –noun, plural -gies.
1. a written or spoken expression of one’s regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another: He demanded an apology from me for calling him a crook.
2. a defense, excuse, or justification in speech or writing, as for a cause or doctrine.
3. (initial capital letter, italics ) a dialogue by Plato, centering on Socrates’ defense before the tribunal that condemned him to death.
Dan Rather doesn’t claim to be a Christian. But I wonder if there are Christians who do this same thing?
"I’m sorry [I got caught]" "I hope you’ll forgive me [even though I
don’t think I did anything wrong]" "I’m sorry [you say I sinned against
you]" "I’m sorry [I offended you even though I meant to hurt you]"
For Christian, the root of an apology is repentance. I don’t expect
that from Dan Rather as I don’t think he calls on Jesus as his Savior.
But for Christians?
What do you think?
p.s. I could just as easily swap Dan Rather’s name out for an number
of public people. What I am waiting for is a public figure who is ready
to step up and face the music. My vote in 08 is waiting for this type
of leader. But does he/she exist? Time will tell.
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