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In Reply to: Re: What a load of posted by Admirer on December 24, 2006 at 16:04:37:
Origin: mid 16th century, denoting a formal defense against an accusation.
I am always surprised about the importance Americans place on apologies and apologizing. Same with the word repentance that is used often in cases where matters seem to be very simply secular as opposed to religious.
Could this be due to the prevalent religious attitude in the US? Even on the dollar it says "In God we trust." The emphasis on apologies and the request or denial of apologies always leaves me puzzled, especially in trivial, less important and not "formal" matters.
As if apologies meant somebody really means something? Some people apologize just for political reasons or because they have to. Why so much insistence on formal apologies in informal settings and matters?
Or is it all about virtual and public shoe licking, who gets to lick and who wears the shoe, as Lydia suggests?
