Clarkson, addressing the sanctuary, swore she would “never do anything to offend you.” She had “opened a business out here in the ’70s,” she said. And she recalled telling international television viewers after Katrina that the East should not be turned to green space, she said, offhandedly mentioning that she had been living in Algiers. A few voices started rising at this point, and the conciliation vanished from Clarkson’s tone. “Excuse me, excuse me – no, I’m going to finish,” Clarkson said. “I’ve never been treated like this in my lifetime and I won’t have it.”
Defending her record, Clarkson said she visits eastern New Orleans whenever she’s invited or something important happens. “I don’t know what else I can do to say how much I care about you,” she said.
Clarkson’s comments about yesteryear referred to her childhood, she explained, and she “had a very happy childhood, I’m not apologizing for that,” even though no one was asking her to apologize for her childhood. Clarkson continued, explaining how her father’s best friend was Morris Jeff Sr., a “black Ph.D. who I adored,” Clarkson said. This resulted in groans.
“Please don’t be so rude,” Clarkson pleaded, before continuing with her memories.
She concluded by apologizing for offending people and, in the same breath, added that she “didn’t appreciate the treatment.”
On a similar note, King Henry VIII of England addresses petitioners during the "Pilgrimage of Grace" uprising.
How presumptuous then are ye, the rude commons of one shire. . .to find fault with your Prince. . . . Wherefore, Sirs, remember your follies and traitorous demeanours, and shame not your undoubted King and natural Prince. . . ; and remember your duty of allegiance, and that ye are bound to obey us, your King, both by God's commandment and law of nature. . . . Withdraw yourselves to your own houses, every man; and no more assemble, contrary to our laws and your allegiances; and to cause the provokers of you to this mischief to be delivered to our Lieutenant's hand, or ours, and you yourselves to submit you to such condigne punishment, as we and our nobles shall think you worthy. For doubt ye not else, that we, and our nobles, unrevenged. . .thus we pray unto Almighty God to give you grace to do your duties, and to use yourselves towards us like true and faithful subjects. . .or put yourselves, your lives and wives, children, lands, goods and chattels, besides the indignation of God, in the utter adventure of total destruction and utter ruin by force and violence of the sword
What do these leaders have in common? Well, for one thing, I think we all agree neither should ever be given command of a helicopter.
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