What good are latent apologies?

Of what value is an apology after conveying an injurious statement that has been repudiated by the public?

The latest time-delayed apology was after the Obama children were accused of "having no class" but went further to declare their parents "not respecting their positions" as models for the nation.

Most such latent admissions are made by activists in our political and religious communities which are primarily intended to obscure the gist of their original message.

Recall the joint apologies of Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, who blamed homosexuality and legalized abortions as cause for the 9/11 attacks? Their combined voices were heard three days later, allowing them to prepare for a far-reaching media interview revealing the retraction of their original assertion. Only when saner voices in the Republican Party rebuked them did they apologize.

When will they ever learn?

James D. Cook

Schaumburg