I saw the headline in the Metro section of yesterday’s Wall Street Journal -- “The Politics of Apology: A Standoff”. On Tuesday, Victoria Drogin commented at the Long Island Women’s Group meeting that women tend to apologize, whereas men generally don’t. And I recall being instructed by a Senior partner at my first law firm never to apologize.

Apology - “an admission of error or discourtesy accompanied by an expression of regret”. Although this is the second-listed definition in the Webster’s on my bookshelf (the first being “a formal justification” or “an excuse”), it works for me.

When I saw the headline referring to Mayor de Blasio’s current issue with the NYPD, I wondered whether Victoria’s comment was the missing kernel of understanding: He’s a man, therefore he won't apologize.

What is it about apologizing that makes it so difficult? Does the word carry some stigma? Or is it the process?

I’ve gotten over those early words of instruction and apologize -- but only when appropriate (and that may be the subject of another blog).