Wednesday marked the end of Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, in which Jews unite to offer repentance for their sins from the past year through a process called Teshuva. During the day, Jews generally abstain from food and drink while absorbed in prayer and focus on seeking forgiveness from relatives, friends and colleagues alike. It’s meant as a time for reflection, to look at ones actions objectively and try to improve in any way one sees fit.
For some, apologizing can be construed as an act of weakness. For Donald Trump, it does not seem to be in his DNA. In wake of the lewd audio leak of him bragging about grabbing women’s genitals, he issued a 90-second video in which he offered such a contrived apology he might as well have never issued it in the first place. To make matters worse, he justified his behavior on the video by claiming it was just “locker room talk.” Following his brief remark, he went on to attack Hillary Clinton, illustrating his complete lack of sensitivity to the fact that his actions and words have consequences and need to be addressed with some level of sincerity.
According to an Australian study, people psychologically feel better about their self-esteem when they don’t apologize in the moment because they can maintain an idealized version of themselves. In the long run it can have damaging effects, poisoning relationships and trust. Not only is apologizing and forgiving good for one mentally, it could help others physically as well. Researchers from Hope College and Virginia Commonwealth University found heart rate, blood pressure and sweat levels decreased dramatically in people who were mistreated but then imagined receiving an apology.
Of course, the political arena is not constructed for warm-hearted apologies and exists in a winner take all paradigm. But that doesn’t preclude leaders from admitting their mistakes when wrong. Clinton has repeatedly acknowledged her mistake of using a non-government issued email server and has offered sincere remorse. While apologies or repentance will not fix a mistake, it at least exudes a sense of humanism that every person can relate to.
One of the chief stories of sin and forgiveness in the Old Testament that relates to Yom Kippur is the story of the Golden Calf. As Moses descends Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments, he sees his brother and his people worshiping a golden calf. Instead of complying with God’s wish to destroy them, Moses pleads forgiveness on behalf of the people. The message of the story teaches that everyone is worthy of some forgiveness, if they truly seek it.
Nonetheless, as the last month in the ugliest presidential election season in United States history comes to a close, Donald Trump does not seem to feel an ounce of remorse, yet will do and say anything in order to get into the White House. A real sincere apology would be a good start.
Ezra Solway is a senior English major. He can be reached at esolway@terpmail.umd.edu.
