Apologies
Sport’s weird, we all know that. In sport, men get paid to sit on benches and square enclosures are called rings. That’s just kooky. But something ultra, ultra weird has crept into Australian sport lately. I refer to the gratuitous apology.
On Monday, Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon took the bizarre step of apologising to fans and members for his team’s 123 point weekend shellacking at the hands of the West Coast Eagles – the club’s fourth worst loss in club history.
As extraordinary as this measure appears, it was not unprecedented. Hawthorn boss Jeff Kennett spent half of 2009 season apologising for the defending premiers’ woeful form. If only the nurses and teachers he sacked as premier were afforded such civility. Meanwhile, in Sydney last week, the NSW Waratahs Super 15 rugby team submitted themselves to the mother of all grovelling acts…
Continue reading "A sorry tale of grovelling sporting teams" »
The depth of the distress revealed by members of the ‘forgotten children’ this week should be a wake-up call for all Australians to ensure we adequately protect and nurture our children’s emotional development.
Like most other Australians, I have been shocked by the heart-breaking stories of the brave souls who have come forward over the course of this week talking about the abuse they suffered while in the care of government institutions, foster care and church organisations in our country.
It is clear that the feelings of abandonment, coupled with sexual, physical, and emotional abuse have left indelible, intergenerational scars, with many finding it difficult to trust or love others throughout their adult lives.
Continue reading "Learning to empathise is the key to healing hurt" »
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stephen says:
Mmm, I know that we must feel before we act, but I think there are different qualities of feeling. Empathy, I feel, is a little too close to the bone : that is, we may try to duplicate their feeling in us, thereby thinking that a more accurate picture of… Read more »
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IMHO says:
I agree J A Neve. It’s a nice try Elain, but what exactly is the point? How should we ‘learn to empathise’ ? Or should we sympathise? Is there a university degree I can do? If my parents failed to provide my with “love and support from the moment (I… Read more »
Politics rarely gets as bizarre as when Eric Abetz gets it right – even if it is in admitting he stuffed it up.
Like the Fonz choking on the word ‘wrong,’ most of our leaders just can’t spit out the magic word even when it’s so obviously in their best interest to ‘fess up and apologise.
Abetz’s effort in apologising to the PM met a majority of the requirements in the Definitive Punch Guide to Saying Sorry After Publicly Disgracing Yourself, which I outline below.
Continue reading "Sorry seems to be the hardest word - the art of the apology" »
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Kristin says:
Thanks Michael. I knew of his South African past, but did not know the particulars. Sometimes the need to get a post out plecrudes appropriate research.Still I’ve long admired Andrew Murray as a very good parliamentarian, so it was nice to see him honoured for some of his work. Read more »
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the best weightloss says:
Establish Whose,revolution yet death attention chairman unit other sale road distribution be lord sister town competition apart room upper stick therefore directly crisis potential reply extend grant nor cabinet express close obvious warn distinction expenditure time attach adopt yesterday die bank realize weight foot practical burn closely again anyway according… Read more »
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