I'm Sorry!

The USA Today asked in an article a couple of days ago, where has all the civility gone? You can read that article here: http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-09-14-civility-cover_N.htm . Today I am not only asking where all the civility has gone but I am also asking where did the ability to offer a sincere apology go?

Sincere apologies cannot only make a person feel better it could possibly change history. Would there have been a Watergate scandal had Nixon simply said "I made a mistake, I'm truly sorry. I will try to do better in the future." Could the impeachment of Bill Clinton been stopped with a "I made a mistake. In some areas of my life I am weak and I am working to improve those areas. I am sorry that I let you down but I will work hard to be a better man." During the last few weeks Roger Federer and Serena Williams either cussed out or threatened judges. Then they issued insincere apologies scripted by their public relations staff. Kayne West stole the moment from Taylor Swift and then waited until after Swift's appearance on The View before deciding he needed to apologize. Was Kayne's apology sincere or was it given just to smooth the waters over and make him look better to all the people criticizing the jackass? Joe Wilson violates over one hundred years of decorum during a joint session of congress. Then he apologizes to the president but decides it isn't necessary to apologize to the institute that he embarrassed. As other evidence that rudeness is now the norm we can add bad drivers, clueless clerks, thoughtless friends and relatives.

I've come to the conclusion that more kindness and humbleness is needed in the world. So I am asking you to either say your sorry to someone or do an act of kindness within twenty-four hours after you read this post. Then report back here and post either who you said you were sorry to or what act of kindness that you did. I've also adopted a new game plan. Now when I meet someone new the first thing I say to them is, "I'm Sorry." Sometimes it doesn't hurt to pay for things in advance.

For my act of kindness this morning I got up at 5:30 AM and drove to Mom's. Then I watered her lawn and set out her breakfast. While there I said to her "I'm truly sorry for all the times that I've disappointed you." It sparked a wonderful conversation about her and dad and how they always respected each other and admitted when they were wrong. It is one of the reasons that their marriage lasted over sixty years. As part of the conversation this morning Mom did tell me she was proud of the man that I've become and she also apologized to me for putting me in the position of caregiver.

In closing, I would just like to say to all of you that I am sorry if I have ever written anything that has offended or upset you. I will try to do better in the future.

TODAY'S TRIVIA

Yesterday's answer: The first woman to run for president in the United States. She ran for office at a time when she legally couldn't vote. Victoria Claflin Woodhull

Today is a Who Am I?"

I was born in 1871 and the date of my death is confusing being sometime between 1928 and 1960. I was born in the Canadian Village of Lindsay, Ontario. I am famous for performing one of the last recorded type of an event. My gender made me standout in my occupation. My parents were both religious and affluent, providing me with the best available education. At the age of 16, I became enamored with a young man who has been variously described as a rake, drunkard, and/or gambler. We eloped, but I soon discovered that my new husband was abusive and I left him to return to her mother. I reconciled and my husband several times. During our time together we had two children, a boy and a girl, which I sent to my mother. In 1893 while at The Chicago World's Fair I developed a fascination with the cowboy lifestyle while watching Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. After the fair I left my husband and worked as a cook and singer. Some people say I had a fondness for cigars, liquor, and morphine. In 1898 I moved to Arizona were some people were confused by my occupation, some thinking I worked as a cook in a boardinghouse. while others thought I operated a brothel. When the nearby mine closed I joined forces with a man and we acquired money from a transportation company. We got the money on May 30, 1899. Not wanting to be recognized I dressed in men's clothing and cut my hair short. I was a handsome dude in my outfit holding a .38 revolver. The time that followed the obtaining of that money was an arresting experience. Because of my gender and the novelty of a female in my occupation a media frenzy started quickly. The local crew put me up in a very small home. I left my house, which was made of lath and plaster, without the landlord's knowledge on on October 12, 1898. Two weeks later my landlord convinced me to return home. The trial period that followed angered a judge because twelve people didn't think I did anything wrong and he did. As soon as I was free I was marshaled in to a new trial and determined to be anything but innocent. I was were sent to a new home in Yuma, Arizona for five years. I was the only female in that otherwise all male home. In December 1902 good Governor Brodie said "pardon." and I left for Kansas to play the lead in a play about my life that had been written by my sister. My life is not only a staple of Western Fiction but my exploits were featured in the film Yuma City and the play The Lady With A Gun. Who Am I?