Apologizing was once considered brave.
After all, the insight into the dark side of one's own actions requires a good portion of humility, self-distance and the ability to criticize.
But the wind has turned.
The apology has become the most popular speech act of the New Year.
"2021 is the year of forgiveness" tweeted Jan Böhmermann in December, what his commentators referred to the failure of the Corona period. But before there can be forgiveness, an apology must first be found. And before that, a debt. 2021 is just three months old and is already making a name for itself in discussion at a rapid pace.