http://www.hankjr.com/home/197-thanks-to-my-supporters
“I have always been very passionate about Politics and Sports and this time
it got the Best or Worst of me. The thought of the Leaders of both Parties
Jukin and High Fiven on a Golf course, while so many Families are Struggling
to get by simply made me Boil over and make a Dumb statement and I am very
Sorry if it Offended anyone. I would like to Thank all my supporters. This
was Not written by some Publicist.”  -- Hank Williams Jr


The apology is more offensive than the original remark, in the sense that I
at least had the sense that he was being honest originally. The apology
clearly has almost no relationship to what he said, and is unlikely to
express what he really believes. He was not pissed because the President and
the Speaker were having a Saturday Afternoon Party (we know how much
Williams hates parties), he was pissed that the leader of the Republican
party would socialize with the enemy. It was a stupid comment, he is a
stupid man, and he has the same right every American has to be stupid.

A couple of years ago I gave a presentation to most of my campus, and said
something that pissed off a large fraction of them. I got a storm of emails,
phone calls, drop-in chats and stink-eye looks, A colleague encouraged me to
give one of those "sorry if my remarks offended you, that was not my
intention" apologies, but I declined. I had said exactly what I meant. I was
sorry that so many people were offended, but to say that with any integrity
I would have had to say "I am sorry so many of you are so stupid that you
could not understand what I said and instead got offended". I didn't think
that would make anyone feel better. Instead I wrote a note repeating what I
said, expanding on it a little, noting that I was always interested in
continuing the conversation with any interested party, and that it was
always a joy to engage in vigorous and passionate argument and debate with
my colleagues. I had a lot of interesting and productive conversations, and
most of the rest of the people eventually got over it - and to hell with
those who did not. I guess it did ruin my chances to sing the opening to
Monday Night Football.

-- 
TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People!
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