Sorry seems to be the hardest word...

It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation.
And it's getting more and more absurd.
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over?
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word.

The Editors of the Stradbroke Monthly have had a hard time over the last eighteen months mainly at the hands of a small group of parish councillors. Twice attempts were made to sack them and they have been treated with disrespect. At the last parish council meeting the editors read a statement out that included the following:

This has caused all of us sleepless nights, nausea and other common effects of being bullied and this fear of unjustified attack has been affecting us all for well over a year - a particular low point was when we were told by a group of councillors that we were going to have to sign a contract drawn up by them, and to make that “lawful” we would be offered ONE Penny consideration. What a way for those Councillors to show their appreciation of work we do.

You might think that at the very least such conduct would result in an apology but so far no apology has been received at at. Not even for "unintentional" upset.

The council is to debate the magazine yet again at its next meeting. I hope that this meeting will begin with a public apology to the editors and that all councillors will then treat them with respect during the meeting. To re-build trust between people takes time but the starting point has to be to acknowledge the problem.

Being a councillor doesn't mean that you are too important to apologise. Either some councillors don't think they have done anything wrong or maybe sorry really is the hardest word.