[Quote] "Higher ups "never explain, never apologize," first because they don't have to, and second because it might threaten their high status" (Lakoff 23)
This quote really stood out to me. It's basically saying that people of higher statures and classes usually don't apologize simply because they don't have to. Apologizing might lower or risk their credibility or place in society. Rather than to admit to their wrongdoing, they would rather maintain their status, than to risk losing it.
This quote fits right into Lakoff's argument because this definitely goes on in politics today. No one in politcs wants to admit that they were wrong.
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I loved that you wrote about this quote. I was torn between this one and another. I also highlighted this. I full agree with this. People of higher status think that just because they are "higher up" than others, they can get away with not apologizing. They think that doing so would hurt their status and reputation.
It’s interesting that Lakoff uses the word “never”. In his same piece of writing, he gives an example of Ronald Reagan dealing with people who got on him for making a comment about Martin Luther King Jr. Ronald Reagan was able to apologize to those who took it offensively, but at the same time explain that “it was a flippant remark made in response to a flippant question”, therefore justifying what he had said. He explained that “if someone asks you something in jest, it is only fitting and proper to respond in kind. If I had responded seriously, I would show myself to be communicatively incompetent, which (as the Great Communicator) I could not possibly be. Therefore, if you understand anything about how communication works, you will see that I did the only rational thing, and your concern (indicating that you took my remark seriously) merely shows that you don’t know as much about how to communicate as I do, which is why I have to explain it all to you.”
I used an extended version of this same quote and we both have a similar perspective on it. I also agree with you on the point that most "higher ups" (as Lakoff puts it) of today don't ever admit when they're wrong. Either somebody explains it for them (in the case of Ronald Reagan) or it is just overlooked.
I was also intrieged by the quote you used. It's so true when you think about it. Powerful people rarely apologize because doing to would be admitting to being in the wrong. Even though it seems elitist to never apologize to people of lower status it also makes since. The power of a ceo or a president comes from stockholders or citizens placing trust in thier authority. Apologies could diminish that authority or cause people to lose trust in them.
I agree with Latoya. If any politician has to apologize its not a REAL apology but an explanation. I liked how Lakoff used a lot of examples in his essay to further explain his point, such as George Bush, Rudolph Giuliani, or Ronald Reagan. However, Lakoff does say on the bottom of page 29 "I have suggested that public figures avoid making apologies." I can't decide if Lakoff is contradicting himself because he talks about if a president does not apologize it is an act of hostility.
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