Wilson's Non-Apology
I know I'm way behind in the news cycle here, but there's something about the "apology" of Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) to President Obama after calling the President a liar that continues to bother me.
Others have pointed out that Wilson was wrong on the facts. What Obama said, and Wilson called a lie, was actually true. The proposed health care reforms would not provide federal benefits to illegal immigrants.
Others have also pointed out that in his "apology" Wilson did not admit to any factual error. His statement included the qualification that "I disagree with the President's statement," as though Wilson might be entitled not only to his own opinion but also to his own facts. Wilson's "apology" merely expressed regret that his "You lie" outburst was "inappropriate" and represented a "lack of civility."
But there is another problem with Wilson's outburst and his apology that I haven't seen addressed, which is that Wilson did not shout "You're wrong" or "You're ignorant" or even "You're stupid." Wilson shouted "You lie." Wilson publicly shouted his belief that what the the President was saying was not just wrong, but deliberately, consciously, and maliciously dishonest.
And Wilson did not retract anything in his "apology." He didn't admit that he was wrong about the facts, and he didn't admit that he was wrong about the President's supposed lack of honesty. All he did was apologize for yelling his opinion at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
Wilson called the President of the United States a liar to his face and in public, and has not yet issued any retraction of that judgment. He did not apologize for what he thought, but only for saying it out loud.
True civility is more than the maintenance of a facade of decorum. Just as peace is more than the absence of violence, civility is more than the absence of rudeness. True civility, and true civilization, requires respect for one another. Wilson expressed disrespect to Obama during the joint session of Congress, and confirmed that disrespect by the superficiality of his "apology."
Others have pointed out that Wilson was wrong on the facts. What Obama said, and Wilson called a lie, was actually true. The proposed health care reforms would not provide federal benefits to illegal immigrants.
Others have also pointed out that in his "apology" Wilson did not admit to any factual error. His statement included the qualification that "I disagree with the President's statement," as though Wilson might be entitled not only to his own opinion but also to his own facts. Wilson's "apology" merely expressed regret that his "You lie" outburst was "inappropriate" and represented a "lack of civility."
But there is another problem with Wilson's outburst and his apology that I haven't seen addressed, which is that Wilson did not shout "You're wrong" or "You're ignorant" or even "You're stupid." Wilson shouted "You lie." Wilson publicly shouted his belief that what the the President was saying was not just wrong, but deliberately, consciously, and maliciously dishonest.
And Wilson did not retract anything in his "apology." He didn't admit that he was wrong about the facts, and he didn't admit that he was wrong about the President's supposed lack of honesty. All he did was apologize for yelling his opinion at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
Wilson called the President of the United States a liar to his face and in public, and has not yet issued any retraction of that judgment. He did not apologize for what he thought, but only for saying it out loud.
True civility is more than the maintenance of a facade of decorum. Just as peace is more than the absence of violence, civility is more than the absence of rudeness. True civility, and true civilization, requires respect for one another. Wilson expressed disrespect to Obama during the joint session of Congress, and confirmed that disrespect by the superficiality of his "apology."
