On The Possibility of a Civil Apology
In: Forgiveness: An Interdisciplinary DialogueSearch for other papers by Tuğba Sevinç Yücel in
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In this chapter, I will examine the concept of ‘civil apology’ with reference to the event of ‘Apology Campaign to Armenians’ in Turkey. In December 2008, 200 prominent Turkish intellectuals issued an apology for ‘The Great Catastrophe of 1915.’ The apology refers to the wrongdoings of the Ottoman Empire to its Armenian citizens during 1915-1918 and apologizes for the ‘denial of and insensitivity showed to’ the event. The Apology was controversial in many respects. The Campaign drew hostile and sympathetic reactions from both parties. In analyzing the campaign, I will distinguish ‘The Apology Campaign to Armenians’ from political apology. Instead of dismissing the Apology as an improper example of political apology, I will develop a concept of civil apology by which certain intensions and objectives of its contributors could be understood. I will argue that the Apology is not and cannot be a replacement of political apology. The wrong committed against Armenians requires political apology in addition to the attempts of civil initiatives. Yet, civil apologies have certain functions which cannot be fulfilled by political apologies alone. Civil apologies, I will argue, can be more sincere and spirited than political apologies could be, and they will contribute to success of political apology in relaxing past controversies. Because they rely on conscience, a human capacity for empathy and morality rather than interest, power and money, they can contribute to the process of forgiveness and help healing the wounds of victims.