Sorry About That

It's been the week of apologies from various Canadian governments as present day politicians try to make amends for the misdeeds of their political ancestors.
 
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Harper apologized for the dreaded "head tax" that was put on Chinese immigrants between 1885 and 1923. The verbal apology included financial compensation that many from the Chinese community have called an important "first step" in the process. Politically speaking, it was long overdue and it took years to draw attention to the injustice. To this end, it was an important victory for the grassroots of a community that "literally" built this country. In a rather staged yet ironic gesture, the government hired a train to transport 100 Chinese people to hear the speech from Harper in person. Last year, Paul Martin apologized by delivering financial compensation but he didn't say the words. Perhaps Mr. Martin's view of Canadian history is as blinkered as his vision for the future.

In 1988, Brian Mulroney, as Prime Minister, formally apologized to Japanese Canadians interned during the second World War. That, too, was a difficult pill to swallow for a government unable to understand the misdeeds of its political ancestors.
 
Meanwhile in Toronto, a soil-turning ceremony for the victims of the Air India tragedy marked a different kind of apology. Perhaps it was politically expedient or an actual act of compassion on behalf of the Feds, but I'm not so sure. The legal case against two of the plotters took years to get to court and then the verdict was not-guilty. To the family members of the 329 killed it was hard to accept and they immediately called for an inquiry. It started June 21st. The government made the right choice; a hearing may help bring some closure to the families.
 
Political actions such as government inquiries, do speak louder than words. But why does "sorry" seem to be the hardest one to say?
 
That's just my opinion. I could be wrong.