5 February 1998 Edition
Sorry, ma'am?
By Eoghan MacCormaic
It's sad (so sad)
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad (so sad)
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.
Well I'll tell you. You'll never accuse this of being an uncultured column. I've been thinking about the whole idea of saying sorry this week, the times that are in it and all that. And who better to add a literary verse than the icon of sorrow, the epitome of public mourning, and reviser of old songs, Elton John.
Fans of the Caointeoir Oifigiúil will recognise the opening lines as a snatch from his classic work `Sorry seems to be the hardest word'. I dedicate it to Elton's chums in Buckingham Palace, not least among them Elizabeth, who knighted Elton at Christmas. The same ceremonial sword rested on the shoulders and epaulettes of other less worthy denizens of the British establishment in their day, including - as we all know - Derek Wilford of the Parachute Regiment. Knighted for murder, some would say, but certainly honoured in such a way as to give the blessings and sanction of the British monarch to the culprit in command of Bloody Sunday.
And now the chickens are coming home to roost. There must have been some raised eyebrows in the Windsor household last week as news filtered through about the new Bloody Sunday inquiry. Inquiry? Into the Paras? Into Charlie's regiment. Into Wilford? Into Widgery? It must have all seemed so traumatic, so troublesome.
And then that Tony Doherty chap, calling for an apology. That was going too far, expecting a Royal `beg your pardon'. The only connection to be made between Royal and Pardon is the one the murdering soldiers and their murderous political masters are expecting to receive should the inquiry lead to certain conclusions.
As Sir Elton John, might say, Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
For some people, however, the idea of saying sorry, or at least admitting to a mistake is becoming easier. The former bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, himself a central image in the Bloody Sunday story, became an unlikely ally of the Sinn Féin position in the negotiations this week when he admitted to being embarrassed that he had refused to talk to Sinn Féin for more than 15 years. Fast Eddie he ain't, but better late than never and the retired Bishop has now advised Trimble to engage in talks.
Trimble himself, of course, would never go in for the sorry word. Indeed his giggles and sniggers over the past few weeks, and his `mealy mouthed' comments on the announcement of the Bloody Sunday inquiry last week shocked many people, unionists included, who feel that the time for talks is here.
And while sorry might be the hardest word for most people, Trimble finds the first word to be the hardest, but talk he will, eventually.
But back to the Royalty and that apology. Can they say it? The experts say no, and in fact Gregory Campbell was quick off the mark to point out that they didn't even apologise for Amritsar last year. We can expect intellectual arguments and explanations from Burkes Peerage and other fonts of wisdom as to why Tony Doherty's simple request is unable to be met. Royalty doesn't apologise, it seems. Mind you, in Derry at the weekend I heard a more rational explanation as to why Elizabeth won't be saying sorry to the people of Derry... `It took her five days to visit her ninety seven year old mother in hospital - do you think she's likely to show emotion to us?'
Come in Elton, it's time to rewrite another song.
It's sad (so sad)
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad (so sad)
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.
Well I'll tell you. You'll never accuse this of being an uncultured column. I've been thinking about the whole idea of saying sorry this week, the times that are in it and all that. And who better to add a literary verse than the icon of sorrow, the epitome of public mourning, and reviser of old songs, Elton John.
Fans of the Caointeoir Oifigiúil will recognise the opening lines as a snatch from his classic work `Sorry seems to be the hardest word'. I dedicate it to Elton's chums in Buckingham Palace, not least among them Elizabeth, who knighted Elton at Christmas. The same ceremonial sword rested on the shoulders and epaulettes of other less worthy denizens of the British establishment in their day, including - as we all know - Derek Wilford of the Parachute Regiment. Knighted for murder, some would say, but certainly honoured in such a way as to give the blessings and sanction of the British monarch to the culprit in command of Bloody Sunday.
And now the chickens are coming home to roost. There must have been some raised eyebrows in the Windsor household last week as news filtered through about the new Bloody Sunday inquiry. Inquiry? Into the Paras? Into Charlie's regiment. Into Wilford? Into Widgery? It must have all seemed so traumatic, so troublesome.
And then that Tony Doherty chap, calling for an apology. That was going too far, expecting a Royal `beg your pardon'. The only connection to be made between Royal and Pardon is the one the murdering soldiers and their murderous political masters are expecting to receive should the inquiry lead to certain conclusions.
As Sir Elton John, might say, Sorry seems to be the hardest word.
For some people, however, the idea of saying sorry, or at least admitting to a mistake is becoming easier. The former bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, himself a central image in the Bloody Sunday story, became an unlikely ally of the Sinn Féin position in the negotiations this week when he admitted to being embarrassed that he had refused to talk to Sinn Féin for more than 15 years. Fast Eddie he ain't, but better late than never and the retired Bishop has now advised Trimble to engage in talks.
Trimble himself, of course, would never go in for the sorry word. Indeed his giggles and sniggers over the past few weeks, and his `mealy mouthed' comments on the announcement of the Bloody Sunday inquiry last week shocked many people, unionists included, who feel that the time for talks is here.
And while sorry might be the hardest word for most people, Trimble finds the first word to be the hardest, but talk he will, eventually.
But back to the Royalty and that apology. Can they say it? The experts say no, and in fact Gregory Campbell was quick off the mark to point out that they didn't even apologise for Amritsar last year. We can expect intellectual arguments and explanations from Burkes Peerage and other fonts of wisdom as to why Tony Doherty's simple request is unable to be met. Royalty doesn't apologise, it seems. Mind you, in Derry at the weekend I heard a more rational explanation as to why Elizabeth won't be saying sorry to the people of Derry... `It took her five days to visit her ninety seven year old mother in hospital - do you think she's likely to show emotion to us?'
Come in Elton, it's time to rewrite another song.