Comments on: Slovenia's ambassador apologizes to her children and her nation for signing ACTA, calls for mass demonstrations in Ljubljana tomorrow

By: Mario Hartner

Mario Hartner — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:02:00 +0000

I know this woman personally and I have to say that she sincerely feels bad about her decision but she had no way of not signing it as she was ordered to do it. It is true that she should read ACTA thoroughly and complain to Slovene government before signing it.

I think she has a great character for apologizing and trying to fix her mistake unlike 99,9999% politicians on this world.

By: Palomino

Palomino — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:19:00 +0000

deleted

I would also like to mention that this was probably attached to something else,, in happens here in the U.S. a lot.

By: Palomino

Palomino — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:15:00 +0000

True, we seem to apologize for other people and their situations, “I’m sorry” is usually now a response to someone’s situation, it’s the new “fuck off and leave me alone”.

By: Palomino

Palomino — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 09:01:00 +0000

It takes a brave person within the political scene to change their mind.

Remember, we had a couple Republicans switch parties a few years ago, so resigning isn’t necessary in some situations.

By: Palomino

Palomino — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:57:00 +0000

“Ambassador Zorko, you have a minute? Good, please sign here, here, and here, here, then here, and now here and finally here. Thank you.”

I really does happen like that.

By: KanedaJones

KanedaJones — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:16:00 +0000

Some of us sign less things, so we can.

However, I’ll agree with your macro-point here. Certainly someone in this person’s job wouldn’t have time, (or more likely, opportunity) to do so.

Appeal to celebrity isn’t a good rhetorical argument, but given that we’re talking about stoning someone to death, I’ve always appreciated the sentiment of this quote, no matter who originated it.

–GimpWii

By: Dingo Dongo

Dingo Dongo — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:33:00 +0000

Well, to be fair, that passage has even less historical basis than the rest of the Gospels: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_and_the_woman_taken_in_adultery

That said, it’s morally idiotic.

By: Fedja Hvastija

Fedja Hvastija — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:06:00 +0000

The government did vote and she was ordered to sign it. She’s apologizing for something she had no way of preventing.

By: Fedja Hvastija

Fedja Hvastija — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:05:00 +0000

She was legally obliged, any resistance would have been for show, and it’d be signed by some MoFA drone later.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Here’s something to consider: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”
Spoken by a far wiser man than many commentators on here.

Pardon me if I don’t take advice from a guy who got the death penalty in his early thirties for being a religious nut.

By: miasm

miasm — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:02:00 +0000

bullshit!

At least that’s what I think she was trying to say through all the cake crammed in her mouth.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:54:00 +0000

Some people spend their whole lives screwing up other people’s lives and expect to get away with it by saying, “Ooops! Sorry!” An apology isn’t enough; you need to clean up your mess.

By: anwaya

anwaya — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:47:00 +0000

Huh? Where were you during the Bush years, when “except, not really” signing statements took off?

By: CountZero

CountZero — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:23:00 +0000

How many of the hyper-critical here always read every last word of every page of the small-print on anything they sign? I’ll call anyone who says they do a liar, unless they’re a lawyer, because nobody ever does, especially a document prepared by a government and presented as a Fâit Accompli with only a signature required to ratify it.
Here’s something to consider: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone”
Spoken by a far wiser man than many commentators on here.

By: DewiMorgan

DewiMorgan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:19:00 +0000

She should have added a note while signing, like Obama.
Apparently that’s the new get-out-of-guilt card.

By: Winston Smilesworth

Winston Smilesworth — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Fat lot of good your apology does your people now!

By: wrecksdart

wrecksdart — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:21:00 +0000

As an American, I have read of this “Character” thing being involved in politics. Sounds shady to me.

By: Piotr Ługowski

Piotr Ługowski — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Polish Prime Minister just recently announced that ratification of ACTA is on hold. I guess social pressure does account for something in our country. Though this certainly is not the last word, it’s not to put in on hold but to repeal it. Also we should try to turn the table on them, while we get the chance, and make a case against copyright (or at least invasive protection for it).

By: Andrew Singleton

Andrew Singleton — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:54:00 +0000

A sad state when she deserves a medal for doing what’s essentially the correct thing that we were taught to do when we were little. Admit a goof and apologize on recognition of what exactly you goofed on.

By: EH

EH — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Never. Apologies are therefore a sign and admission of failure, period, and anybody who ever apologizes is a weakling and stupidhead.

By: guanto

guanto — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:26:00 +0000

Well, it’s kind of the point of having an ambassador that she represents the will of her government, and reliably so. Ambassadors don’t just quit when they don’t agree with their government (or when the government changes). Yeah, it sucks that Slovenia decided to sign the agreement and good on her for bringing it to the public’s attention but it’s solely the government’s responsibility, not hers.

By: Cornel

Cornel — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Limitless hypocrisy …. how can you not resign after this? Instructed to sign? Really? Was she signing with the name of the country or her own name? She bears full responsibility and must ask for her calling back or resign. Saying you are sorry after this is pathetic and dishonouring. Her job is to read what she signs… she didn’t do that… sorry is just not enough anymore.

By: anfrey

anfrey — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:42:00 +0000

SLEN TIID VO

By: wysinwyg

wysinwyg — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:40:00 +0000

Yeah, exactly. Our society encourages people to have children and get mortgages so that they’ll be in a position where they have to do unethical things for money. That’s pretty much how civilization works.

Maybe the trust-funded hipsters and internet warriors have it right after all.

Edit: Go forth and multiply, suckers.

By: Mujokan

Mujokan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:18:00 +0000

JOOR ZAH FRUL

By: Nathan Bland

Nathan Bland — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:15:00 +0000

She’s an ambassador. As an ambassador she represents the government and must do what the government says- or else resign. Regardless of her civic duty that is her job. If her civic duty outweighs her responsibilities as a diplomat she must step down in order to refuse to follow through with her instructions.

By: Robert Baruch

Robert Baruch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:13:00 +0000

To be fair, she does say that there was an upcoming dragon year. We had ours a few years ago, and let me tell you, it was draining. Dragons booked all the hotel rooms, and left a mess, partying until all hours. Some locals had to rent out the spare bedroom. You couldn’t find an available rental car. You would go into a restaurant, and all the dragons there would turn and stare until you left.

They left as suddenly as they arrived. To this day, I have no idea what the dragons were doing, but they seemed to be determined to have a good time.

By: Mujokan

Mujokan — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:54:00 +0000

She mentions that in the statement: “One of my concerned correspondents asked me what my brother, the late Dr. Janez Drnovsek , would have thought of my signature.”

By: Nina Kožar

Nina Kožar — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:51:00 +0000

You will find the original text published on the Metina lista website http://metinalista.si/why-i-signed-acta/ Please, link appropriately.

By: Sapa

Sapa — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:48:00 +0000

Smart move