Apology

WASHINGTON -- The Navy's apology yesterday to the family of the sailor whom officials implicated in the deadly explosion aboard the USS Iowa raised hopes that legal claims may be settled soon and more than two years of anguish brought to an end."I'm optimistic, in light of the apology and the Navy's admission ,, that the accusation shouldn't have been made, that the next step should be for us to sit down and discuss this rationally to arrive at a fair settlement," said Kreig J. Brusnahan, attorney for the family of Petty Officer 2nd Class Clayton M. Hartwig, a gunner's mate.

The dean of Johns Hopkins Medicine sought to distance the institution from famed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, who has made headlines for his opposition to same-sex marriage, and also promised to meet with students opposed to Carson's planned role in commencement proceedings. In his first statements about the incident, Dr. Paul B. Rothman described Carson's comments on the issue as "hurtful. " Rothman also chastised Carson, who linked same-sex marriage to bestiality, for using offensive language.

An apology from a powerful politician is front-page news -- especially from a politician like William Donald Schaefer who has a legendary capacity to carry a grudge. So, like the rest of the state, we welcome news of Governor Schaefer's surprise appearance in the House of Delegates Monday evening. We hope his brief speech will bring a merciful end to one of the legislative season's zanier distractions.For almost two weeks, the governor's off-the-cuff insult to the Eastern Shore has been engendering resentment in Eastern Shore lawmakers and their constituents.

The Tampa Bay Rays have issued a statement apologizing for their mascot Raymond posing in a photo with a sign that poked fun at the late "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The sign, brought by a fan to Wednesday night's game against the Orioles, lists two items on a “Rays To Do List.” On the list are “World Series” and a crossed-out first item, "Steve Irwin. " Irwin died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray. “Rays mascot Raymond was handed an inappropriate sign brought to the game by a fan,” team spokesman Rick Vaughn said in a statement, according to the Tampa Tribune . “Fans are welcome to bring signs into Tropicana Field provided they are not offensive.

The first apology by Rush Limbaugh, posted on his website over the weekend, sounded forced, qualified, almost defensive. The second, broadcast live on his Monday show, sounded sincere and heartfelt. Rush Limbaugh did something not usually associated with either himself or bombastic talk radio. He apologized for calling a woman a "slut" and a "prostitute. " The woman, 30-year-old Sandra Fluke, a law student at Georgetown University, wants the Catholic school to pay for contraceptives in its insurance policy because, she says, she and her friends cannot afford the cost otherwise.

Mike Preston should give the Ravens' Brendon Ayanbadejo an "F" for sensitivity ("Brendon Ayanbadejo on same-sex marriage passing: 'I'm so stoked, it's like I woke up and it was Christmas,'" Nov. 7). It is insensitive that Mr. Ayanbadejo would compare the passing of same-sex marriage to the religious celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Compare it to your birthday. Compare it to the morning after a big Ravens victory. But comparing it to a holy day is a ridicule to many of the opponents of Question 6. To be clear, I did not vote for Question 6. I do understand the position of those who did. I am not challenging that debate here.

This is it. I've had it. I am outraged. What chutzpah! The article in The Baltimore Sun ("Israeli leader's 'makeup visit'," July 6) stated in a headline: "Obama expected to urge Netanyahu to issue apology for raid." I couldn't believe what I was reading. An apology, just to have a picture taken together? There is nothing for Mr. Netanyahu to apologize for--unless Mr. Obama thinks that violating blockades during wartime is okay, or allowing in people who call themselves "humanitarian or peace activists" who were linked to and/or are supporters of Hamas, Syria and Al Qaeda or were mercenaries paid to provoke the Israeli soldiers who attempted to inspect the cargo and/or identify the people on board to see if they were smuggling weapons or terrorists.

As an airborne veteran of the Korean War, I feel the Community College of Baltimore County owes Charles Whittington a public apology and reinstatement ( "Fight for freedom," Nov. 21). The combat veteran had written an honest essay about his Iraq service. If the administration decided to remove all people who harbored private thoughts (and wrote about them), we may be bailing out another educational institution. On November 11(Veteran's Day), many people would have saluted and thanked Mr. Whittington for his service to his country.

A legislative ethics committee on Monday recommended a reprimand for an Anne Arundel County lawmaker it said lobbied and voted for a measure that would make it easier for him to regain his real estate license. The committee's report found Republican Del. Tony McConkey failed to disclose a conflict of interest or abstain from voting when he should have. Aides said the House of Delegates is expected to address the report by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics on Tuesday. The report recommends House Speaker Michael E. Busch request a public apology to the House.

What would a hon do in this situation? Denise Whiting, the Café Hon owner who roiled a city by trademarking its signature term of endearment, who sought to micromanage the kitsch (and free speech) at a street festival, and who at various points claimed to have more or less codified hon culture, has apologized and promised to give up her legal claim, whatever it truly was, to the commercial use of the word "hon. " Would a hon turn the other heavily-rouged cheek? Probably, but it's going to take some time for Ms. Whiting to erase the ill will she needlessly brought on herself.

Dr. Ben Carson need not apologize for anything. He is a brilliant and successful doctor who has saved thousands of children with his gifted hands and his compassionate care. Perhaps David Zurawik should apologize to him for his nasty and divisive column ("Dr. Ben Carson's descent into the nasty, divisive world of cable TV news," March 29). Of course, it is easier to write that way and to criticize this man for saying what he believes. If the Johns Hopkins medical class does not wish him to speak at their graduation, it is their loss.

Dr. Benjamin Carson, the famed Johns Hopkins neurosurgeon , apologized Friday for his "choice of words" and use of examples in discussing gay marriage on Fox News earlier in the week. During Sean Hannity's show on Tuesday, when asked about the matter before the Supreme Court, Carson said, "Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn't matter what they are. They don't get to change the definition.

Vice President Joe Biden's press secretary apologized to a Capital News Service reporter and the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism on Wednesday after a press office staffer demanded the reporter delete photos taken at an event in Rockville. The reporter, a credentialed member of the press who is a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, was covering a domestic violence event featuring Biden, Attorney General Eric Holder and U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin.

The longer snowflakes were kept at bay, the faster the wisecracks started coming in on Twitter and Facebook. "I remember when I was a kid in the 70's and they predicted storms accurately 7 days in advance," Havre de Grace resident Jason Falkenstine tweeted. "It would be nice to have an apology from meteorologist for being totally wrong," Baltimore resident Jason Sellers wrote. Meteorologists offered a mea culpa for predictions of Baltimore's biggest snowfall in two years.

There was a flutter on Facebook yesterday over an article about Baltimore. A newspaper of some repute had engaged a writer with low esteem for the city to venture here and write about his discoveries. He followed a familiar pattern: Writer from the Big City comes to a quaint little burg and discovers that some of the locals have adopted bipedalism and tamed fire to cook their victuals. Then, with an air of condescension as pungent as the aroma that wafts off the Inner Harbor in July, he departs for civilization.

A legislative ethics committee on Monday recommended a reprimand for an Anne Arundel County lawmaker it said lobbied and voted for a measure that would make it easier for him to regain his real estate license. The committee's report found Republican Del. Tony McConkey failed to disclose a conflict of interest or abstain from voting when he should have. Aides said the House of Delegates is expected to address the report by the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics on Tuesday. The report recommends House Speaker Michael E. Busch request a public apology to the House.

Tell Norman Wolfe ("Quran burning: Obama isn't the one who should be apologizing," March 2) that if you step on someone's toes, you apologize. If you run over someone's cat, you apologize. If you accidentally incinerate someone's book, especially a holy book, you apologize. Then you have laid the groundwork for countering or reacting to whatever vengeance the injured party has unjustly taken. I think humility is a virtue. Respect for the other party, no matter how unjust or evil that party may be, is the preferred first step in a course of action.

If the editors of The Sun believe that a recently-issued apology by the Howard County school board ("Howard school board apologizes for segregation," Nov. 16) that relates to treatment of African-American students 49 years ago warrants front page above the fold coverage, it cannot be considered to be a serious newspaper. Philip G. Enstice, Ellicott City

NEW ORLEANS -- Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco apologized Tuesday for what he called a bad choice of words when responding to a question about cold-weather cities hosting Super Bowls. "Yeah, I think it's retarded," Flacco said on Monday. "I guess I shouldn't say [word]. ... " During Media Day on Tuesday, Flacco said he regretted using the term. "It was a bad choice of words," Flacco said. "I have a great relationship with Special Olympics back in Baltimore and have had one for many years.

Once upon a Sunday, nervous, I sat spectating through my cable service, Wondering why, oh why, the Ravens couldn't score. While I grimaced, quite distraught, suddenly a pass was caught. A breath of life from those once at death's door? "'Tis just a fluke", I said, "a small vict'ry in a losing war. " "Only this, and nothing more. " Ah, distinctly I remember, 'twas well past a cold December, And each playoff weekend became more of a bore. Grumpily I watched my teams, sink like iron ducks it seems, As they flopped and flailed like an ostrich trying to soar.