Contrition in a crisis brings out truth
In North Korea, where inventing foreign enemies has helped keep three generations of Kims in power, the current dictator, Kim Jong Un, displayed a moment of contrition last week. He opened a meeting of the ruling Workers鈥� Party by admitting he has had to learn 鈥減ainful lessons鈥� in leadership. Over the past five years, he said, the economy has 鈥渋mmensely underachieved.鈥� He acknowledged mistakes that could not be tied to any foreign foe.
Humility is rare among national leaders, especially dictators who claim infallibility and threaten neighbors with nuclear weapons. Yet when such self-reflection occurs, it not only commands attention but sometimes deserves forgiveness. As the COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread damage, more leaders may be recognizing that an admission of mistakes is not seen as a sign of weakness. It might even be a sign of strength.
Last year, for example, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen,聽apologized聽to Italy for Europe鈥檚 failure to support the Italian health system when it was overwhelmed by the coronavirus. Her apology helped unify the Continent鈥檚 response to the crisis.
In the United States last month, Army Gen. Gustave Perna, who is in charge of distributing COVID-19聽vaccines to the states, apologized for a shortfall of聽deliveries. 鈥溾�業 know that鈥檚 not done much these days. But I am responsible,鈥� he said. His contrition has perhaps allowed other officials to own up to their mistakes in the rollout of the vaccine.
When a government leader fails and then apologizes, the public is usually divided on how to react, writes Everett Worthington, professor emeritus at Virginia Commonwealth University. Yet at a time of great upheaval and political polarization in the U.S., forgiveness is needed.
鈥淧olitical opponents are often hateful, critical, and cruel with a justification that they are merely telling the truth to their political backers. But contempt for an opponent is easily detected by others who support the target of contempt,鈥� he states in a paper for the John Templeton Foundation. 鈥淭his breeds a divisive spirit within the public square ... and the results of ill feeling and civic division will cascade amid the general population.鈥�
In his own admission of responsibility, North Korea鈥檚 leader did not ask for forgiveness. But Mr. Kim did skip his usual Jan. 1 address this year and instead released a handwritten letter that gave thanks to 鈥渢he people鈥� for their trust 鈥渋n the difficult times.鈥� Even one of the most feared and disliked people in the world聽understands the need聽to be humble.聽Only when genuine humility takes root聽can a wrong be put in the past and all things become new.
