Never apologize for America

"I will never apologize for the United States — I don't care what the facts are... I'm not an apologize-for-America kind of guy."

Statement as Vice-president, during a presidential campaign function (2 Aug 1988), commenting on the Navy warship USS Vincennes having shot down Iran Air Flight 655 in a commercial air corridor on July 3, killing 290 civilians, as quoted in "Perspectives", the quote of the week section of Newsweek (15 August 1988) p. 15; also quoted in "Rally Round the Flag, Boys" by Michael Kingsley in TIME magazine (12 September 1988)

"We must never apologize for the United States of America."

"I will never apologize for the United States," the Vice President declared recently. "I will stand up for her."

"I'm not an apologize-for-America kind of guy."[/quote]

Etc.

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/George_H._W._Bush


Is this where it all began, or have presidents before and after Bush I essentially held the same attitude? Is this an official American doctrine? :p

Was just a little surprised when I came across this quote while reading about flight 655.

This isn't a uniquely American doctrine. It's pretty hard to get any country to officially and willingly apologize for anything.

Why is this in general chat? :o

Because I felt this was the most suitable place for it. Thanks for asking rather than just moving it like you did to GGT's GOP thread :mad:

Pretty sure Clinton and Bush Jr. apologized for slavery, taking part in the slave trade, and for mistreating Native Americans...

Though countries in general aren't in the habit of apologizing for their mistakes.

We did :P

http://iconicphotos.files.wordpress....eg?w=500&h=361

An apology for something as large as the Holocaust (25 years after the fact), and the guy almost gets kicked out of power and has 48% of the population disagree with him...

Do you contest the fact that he apologized?

Did I say countries never apologize? I even listed apologies made by Clinton and Bush Jr...

I'm sorry for Big Brother :(