A Tale of Two Apologies

by David Safier

Lisa Chan starred in a political ad shown in Michigan during the Super Bowl which has been widely panned as being racist. It was clear Chan was an actress reading from a script, not stating her own beliefs. She could easily have ducked responsibility by "apologizing" to people who imagined the words she said were hers. But that's not what she did. She took the blame.

"I am deeply sorry for any pain that the character I portrayed brought to my communities. As a recent college grad who has spent time working to improve communities and empower those without a voice, this role is not in any way representative of who I am. It was absolutely a mistake on my part and one that, over time, I hope can be forgiven. I feel horrible about my participation and I am determined to resolve my actions."

Cahn says she absolutely made a mistake, she feels horrible about it and is determined to resolve her actions.

Any questions?

Michael Hicks made a statement on a popular radio show implying TUSD students who attended a UA Mexican-American Studies class might have been sexually abused by comparing the situation to "Penn State." They were his own words, not words from a script someone handed to him. Yet Hicks, unlike Chan, refused to take direct responsibility for his words, stating in a letter to Dr. John P. Jones, the Dean of the UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences:

"I apologize for choosing to use Penn State in my comments about this concern. I understand how that can be interpreted as insensitive and inappropriate."

Hicks does not admit he said anything insensitive and inappropriate, but he says he understands how someone could interpret his words that way. He made his non-apology apology in a private letter to someone who was not involved in the incident rather than making it in a public forum. And when he was asked at Tuesday's School Board meeting if he was planning to comment on his "Penn State" statement, Hicks replied,

"No, I have no more comments."

Any questions?