What a sorry state of affairs this is

WHEN was it, exactly,

that society embraced

the dangerous idea that an apology solves everything? A mantra of modern parenting is that a misbehaving child needs to show weepy- eyed contrition before he and the victim of his lunge with the hot poker can ‘move on’. With children, it makes sense, but the apology culture doesn’t always work for adults. I raise this issue because Arsene Wenger is still being badgered to apologise to Jose Mourinho for being called a ‘voyeur’ by the Chelsea manager, and because Gavin Henson has had to repent in front of his Wales team-mates for laying into them, the Lions management and just about everyone bar Uncle Tom Cobbleigh, in his autobiography. Sorry, but why should Wenger prostrate himself before Mourinho and satisfy our craving for a mutual apology when it’s obvious that Wenger is the one whose reputation has been attacked? Granted, the Arsenal manager responded to the sinister ‘voyeur’ taunt by calling Mourinho ‘stupid’. But there is something admirable about a public figure refusing to satisfy society’s hypocritical need to hear everyone say sorry to everyone else. As an Englishman travelling to Celtic lands, you often feel you’re expected to apologise for Oliver Cromwell before they will sell you a cup of coffee. Talking of which, sports book publishers will have taken down all the particulars of Henson’s appearance before a kangaroo court of senior Welsh players. Through ghost writers, players will be able to say what they like in books from now on provided they are ready to go down on one knee and apologise to those whose feelings they have hurt. The more explosive an autobiography, plainly, the more copies it sells, so Henson has just given remorse commercial value. Vagabonds everywhere must be thrilled that one word will get them off the hook. Sorry.