While some may question whether a national prayer breakfast blurs the line between church and state, it is one of the rare non-partisan events that has attracted presidents from both parties. It dates back to the days of Dwight Eisenhower. While the organizers might be specific in their religious convictions, the event itself celebrates America’s civil religion. How appropriate that President Obama would call for a renewed civility. He suggested we can challenging each others’ policies without questioning people’s motives. “Surely you can question my policies without questioning my faith or for that matter, my citizenship.”

The cynic may consider that a political ploy designed to rescue plunging poll numbers. Yet, the depth of our national problems requires some setting aside of partisanship. We can agree on the need to alter our political discourse, to move forward in economic recovery, to get out of the nightmarish wars abroad.

How do we pay for our crimes?   Is an apology enough?   How contrite do we need to be for it to qualify?   Kanye West seemed to get it right on the fourth or fifth confession.  It took Jay Leno asking Kanye how his deceased mother would feel about his rudeness towards Taylor Swift.  Republican Representative Joe Wilson’s outburst during the President’s address to Congress also raised the issue.   Wilson considered one apology enough.   Now, Democratic Congressman Alan Grayson has offended Republicans by claiming their “very simple” healthcare plan encourages sick people to die quickly.   Grayson insists that he will not apologize for his poster board presentation to the House of Representatives.