We have become accustomed, in this cynical new world, to almost never hearing honest, straightforward apologies. 

You certainly don’t hear them in Washington, where top leaders will tell you that they never acknowledge mistakes, much less apologize for them, and that they will never, ever say they are sorry for any damage they may have done. They are far more likely to blame someone else.

On down the line, candor has become far too rare in Virginia’s state capital and, at times, even in local government.

Thus, it is important for us to applaud candor and responsible behavior in public officials whenever we feel it to be justified, as it was recently at Smithfield High School.

To set the stage, for most of this column’s readers won’t know about this, here’s what happened.

The school held its Senior Awards Ceremony May 27. That’s when the school’s top academic graduates received recognition for scholarships as well as accoutrements (cords, etc.) to be worn during their graduation ceremony.

It went splendidly. Honor graduates, Beta Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society and STEM Honor society graduates were recognized, as were those who have participated in more than a dozen other programs and organizations. Numerous scholarships were given to deserving seniors by local clubs and even national military academies.

It’s an important program for graduates and their families, recognizing as it does years of hard work leading up to diplomas.

Unfortunately, the stoles that were to be given to the class’ 64 National Honor Society members didn’t arrive in time to be presented during the program. That shouldn’t have been disastrous, but to compound matters, since there were no stoles to be presented, the NHS students were left off the program altogether. 

That’s an “oops” of dramatic proportion.

The stoles did arrive a few days later and the school scheduled a stand-alone presentation for the NHS students and families.

But there’s more. Principal Patricia Cuffey opened the special presentation by addressing students and families with a full-throated apology. Now, I don’t know who actually made the mistake of omitting the students from the earlier program, but in the best tradition of leadership and integrity, Ms. Cuffey accepted full responsibility, telling those present that there was no way the mistake could be corrected but that the special program was the school’s way of apologizing to all affected and that she was doing so personally.

Imagine, for a moment, the impact on the nation if national and state leaders were to stand in front of constituents and say: “We messed up, and we’re sorry. What can we do to fix this?”

There was a time when that actually happened on occasion. Ms. Cuffey reminds us that, despite the modern trend to the contrary, integrity and the courage to say “I’m sorry” are still valued traits of leadership.

 

Simple courtesy

While we’re applauding good behavior, here’s a tip of the hat to the vast majority of local drivers who have kept their cool and worked together to make the horrible traffic conditions caused by the Cypress Creek Bridge work more tolerable.

If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, you clearly haven’t tried to get from the west to the east side of Smithfield during the past 18 months on weekdays from 3-6 p.m. It’s just plain awful. Eastbound traffic on the Smithfield Bypass is typically backed up well beyond the Pagan River Bridge, often beyond Berry Hill Road.

Traffic coming through town and entering the bypass from Main Street is frequently backed up well into the downtown commercial blocks, as well as along Grace Street up to or beyond Cary Street.

The backups require traffic to merge, and a remarkable number of drivers exhibit the kind of courtesy you would hope to see in situations like this, pausing to allow cars to merge from side streets and patiently waiting their turn to move ahead.

Of course, there are those drivers — and you’ve seen them in action — who are determined that allowing one or two cars to enter in front of them will destroy their day by adding 30 seconds or so to their commute. They’re the ones who make sure they are looking the other way when you look at them to enquire whether you might slide into the flow.

But, of course, that attitude is nothing new. They’re the same type of drivers who come roaring past you on the interstate and cut into a merged traffic lane, gaining a precious few slots on those of us who sit in the merged lane waiting to move ahead. 

Fortunately, that style of driver has not been the dominant variety in our town during this awful period.

 

John Edwards is publisher emeritus of The Smithfield Times. His email address is j.branchedwards@gmail.com.