"The Freedom of Real Apologies"

When Layli Long Soldier talks about being surprised she hadn't heard of something before, she is referring to the congressional resolution of apology to Native Americans. It is important to note that she had not heard of this, considering she is an informed citizen of the Oglala Lakota Nation and the United States. Long Soldier says the apology was done so quietly, and without a ceremony, that it was months before she realized it had happened.

Long Soldier is referring to the phrasing of the congressional resolution when she talks about its language being like poetry. She points to the specific phrasing because the so-called apology does not take full credit for the unjust treatment of Native Americans, and to some degree says they are partially to blame for events that transpired. She believe that a genuine apology would allow for freedom on both sides, it would allow for healing to occur and improvements in relations to be made. But this apology, in Layli Long Soldier's eyes was not thought out, and not real.

Specificity is so important in this podcast because their is dialogue between Layli Long Soldier and Krista Tippet about what an authentic apologize is. If the resolution had been more specific and intentional in the apology, and not have just slipped it in somewhere to avoid attention, the results could have been more positive. In my writing, specificity is important because it helps me to stay focused. I am writing for a specific purpose, and for a specific audience, and the more aware I am of this, the better my writing will be.

The structure of this interview was conversational and informative. The dialogue between the two flowed well, and I could tell they both had done their research to prepare for the topics they would be discussing. A takeaway I have that I can use for my research paper is to know about who I am interviewing and go in prepared.