Comments on: Other Friendly Gestures Might Include An Ankle-Lock Submission Or Iron Claw http://headsparks.com/2008/08/19/other-friendly-gestures-might-include-an-ankle-lock-submission-or-iron-claw/ //in the glow, then it fades Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:44:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: daniel so http://headsparks.com/2008/08/19/other-friendly-gestures-might-include-an-ankle-lock-submission-or-iron-claw/#comment-2961 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:51:05 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/?p=463#comment-2961 Sam — I definitely agree with you. The failure to take responsibility is universal. It is so deeply ingrained in us; only Jesus can free us from the cycle of blame, hurt and separation.
* * *
I never expected the Spanish basketball team to seek reconciliation (which, as you point out, is the ultimate goal of apologies/forgiveness from the perspective of a follower of Christ) — but at least some common sense, or a better PR strategy. I think I just needed to rant a bit :)

]]> By: Sam http://headsparks.com/2008/08/19/other-friendly-gestures-might-include-an-ankle-lock-submission-or-iron-claw/#comment-2960 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:10:39 +0000 http://headsparks.wordpress.com/?p=463#comment-2960 Hi Dan,

The first quote is telling.

I think the basketball players were saying “it was never intended by us to be offensive.” Let’s believe them. Who of us can read other folks’ minds? But of course there’s more to it. After all, the gestures had the effect of offending some people. And the last part of that quote — “only a confused mind” would take offense at the gestures — is telling: it’s in effect saying, “since I didn’t mean offense, you shouldn’t be hurt.”

Interesting how universal that attempted protest is. I use that all the time on my wife only to hurt her more. The problem with it seems to me, it fails to deal with the hurt that has been caused, intended or not. And I think that’s what it may come down to. Is the person more interested in seeking to defend his actions, or in mending the hurt?

A problem only the gospel can address, I’d say….

- Sam

]]>