Before The Bell Rings

 One of the most frequent interactions I have with kids on the playground is The Apology Clinic. 

It begins the same, with Child A insisting that Child B has committed some unpardonable offense. These range from using "bad language" to a wide array of physical intimidation/abuse. The unspoken understanding is that Child A would like to see Child B punished in some manner befitting their vision of the offense. This scale is invariably extreme, and once they are made to understand that public flogging is off the table, Child A is asked to accept a different version of retribution: The Apology. 

Usually, the interest in getting back to whatever recess activity was interrupted by this altercation is enough to speed through steps one and two. Those who are savvy to the program will skip the glaring at one another, then looking away and blurting out the word "sorry" as if they had been coerced by something other than a simple request. At this point, Child A will be asked to take a deep breath and attempt a full sentence, without the harsh tone of voice and a rolling of the eyes. If the sincerity meter makes the slightest jump, we move on to Child B to see if they believe they have received adequate response to their grievance: Do you accept the apology? A quick yes will return things to what amounts to normal, but if further evidence comes to light, such as "she pushed me first," then we go into extra innings, with a reminder that public flogging is still off the table. 

Eventually, negotiations are completed, and more than fifty percent of the time the offended and the offender skip off into the middle distance to resume the play that generated the misunderstanding in the first place. Hopefully their next turn to the Apology Clinic is merely a checkup, and not a full scale intervention. 

I bring this up because I just read Sidney Powell's apology for her role in the Georgia Election Interference Case. "I apologize for my actions in connection with the events in Coffee County."

That's it. Thirteen words. She got a plea deal for what looks to me from my perspective to be the bare minimum that I would expect on the playground. Keeping in mind that public flogging is currently off the table, do we as a nation accept her apology? 

Keeping in mind that there is another election less than a year away.