US politician says sorry for calling Indian-American 'macaca'

From Lalit K Jha
Washington, Jun 4 (PTI) Five years after he called an
Indian-American "macaca" or a monkey, triggering his defeat in
Senate elections in 2006, Republican politician George Allen
has finally apologised.
"Sorry" by Allen, US media reported, is an attempt by
him to win back his Virginia Senate seat, for which election
is due in 2012.
The current occupant to this seat Senator Jim Webb
from the Democratic party has announced that he would not seek
reelection.
"You don't brood over mistakes. You learn from them
and you improve," Allen told conservatives at the Faith and
Freedom Coalition conference in Washington.
"During my last campaign, I never should have singled
out that young man working for my opponent, calling him a
name. He was just doing his job.
"I was wrong to do that to him, and it diverted our
campaign away from the real issues that families care about,"
Allen said referring to the use of word "macaca" against his
Democratic rival's campaign volunteer S R Sidarth.
"Now learning all of this made me even more sensitive
and more committed than ever to the principle of religious
freedom and the dignity of every person, regardless of race,
ethnicity, gender or religious beliefs," he said.
"It reinforced my belief that when injustice — whether
anti-Semitism, racism or repression — arises, leaders must
deplore it. Otherwise people will think it's condoned or
acceptable," he said.
"My family had to endure a lot of taunts and insults
because of my mistake, and I never want to have them have to
go through something like that again," Allen said.
"Ladies and gentleman, these last five years have
given me the opportunity to reflect on all that's happening in
our great country," he added.