APOLOGY

I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO APOLOGIZE TO MYSELF FOR MY ERROR IN THINKING THAT ZINDANE, THE 'GOD' OF FRENCH SOCCER AT THE WORLD CUP COMPETITION, DID NOT APOLOGIZE. ON THE CONTRARY, WHEN HE SAID, "I REACTED BADLY AND I WOULD LIKE TO APOLOGIZE FOR IT," IT WAS THE REAL THING. IT WAS ANOTHER GENUINE APOLOGY WHEN HE ADDED THAT HE DID NOT REGRET THE HEAD BUTTING BECAUSE "THE GUILTY ONE IS THE ONE WHO PROVOKES." ZINDANE'S ADMITTING TO ‘INTIMATIONS OF MORTALITY’ WON HIM A PASS FROM GUILT ON THE WORLD STAGE. ZINDANE EVEN WENT ONE BETTER. HE INADVERTENTLY AND IRONICALLY ALSO APOLOGIZED IN THE MANNER OF THE WORD’S CLASSIC DEFINITION BY HIS DEFENSE OF HIS ACTION.

WEBSTER’S FIRST DEFINITION OF THE WORD, ROOTED IN THE GREEK APOLOGIA, SAVES ZINDANE'S DAY. HIS DECLARATION EQUALS "A FORMAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REGRET FOR HAVING COMMITTED AN ERROR, OFFENSE OR RUDENESS." HIS ADDITIONAL COMMENT EXEMPLIFIES WEBSTER’S SECOND DEFINITION WHEN HE STATED HIS "DEFENSE OR JUSTIFICATION OF A CAUSE OR DOCTRINE." ZINDANE'S SWORD, WITH EQUALLY SHARP DOUBLE-EDGES, CUT TO THE QUICK ANY OBJECTIONS TO HIS BOORISH BEHAVIOR WHEN HIS SECOND APOLOGY FOLLOWED BY HIS FIRST. A WIN-WIN. THE CHANCES OF HIS BEING AWARDED THE LEGION d' HONNEUR ARE ENHANCED.

I MUST APOLOGIZE TO MYSELF BECAUSE I REGRET ERRING ON THE SIDE OF MORALITY. I THOUGHT THAT AN APOLOGY FOR AN OFFENSE SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE INTENT TO REFORM AND NOT PERFORM THE ACTION AGAIN. BUT I WAS WRONG. I'M REMINDED OF A FICTIONAL LOVE DEFINED AS "NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY." I REALIZED THAT GUILT APPARENTLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RUDE OR HURTFUL OR MISTAKEN CONDUCT. TO "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF" IS THE 2ND BEST COMMANDMENT. NOWADAYS, THE FIRST, THE ORIGINAL ONE TO LOVE GOD, IS REPLACED BY THE RULE, "DENY WRONGDOING."