Public figures caught in the wrong normally are able to string together a few words which sound like an apology, but aren’t. To say, “I’m sorry if I let the public down” or “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” is not to take credit for an offense. To say, “I’m sorry if…” is to leave open the possibility that one did nothing offensive in the first place. Better far to say, “I’m sorry that I did this, and I ask your forgiveness for it.” That is to own it.
Frank Gehry is an architect who spoke recently at an event called the Aspen Ideas Festival. James Fallows who was in attendance at Gehry’s presentation commented publicly on Gehry’s response to a questioner, a response which seemed to be unseemly.
Gehry’s response to Fallows is printed here, and concludes with the line “I apologize for offending you.”
What do you think? Does this make the cut? Does it reflect the sense of humility and ‘owning wrong’ which is part and parcel of true sorrow for wrong?
If so, learn from it, and with your spouse, children, family, and friends, go and do likewise.
Gus/Adri
I think Gehry tried to justify himself. He should have apologized to the man he humiliated, not to the reporter.-ge
Seth
I believe that Gehry handled the situation very well! Although I do not know the specifics of what the man was questioning, I have heard others start to grandstand at the expense of the speaker before. I am not saying this because I am a great Gehry aficionado, I too have some issues with his work. But I am not about to rebuke the man in public to prove what a great architecture critic I am. As a designer, I know the element of my soul that gets put into my projects, and if someone were coming after my work I am not sure I would have stopped at "Pompous".