Rielle Hunter admits wrongdoing, in moral language for her affair with John Edwards:

“For years I was so viciously attacked by the media and the world that I felt like a victim. I now realize that the attacks are actually beside the point. The point is: I behaved badly.”

Hunter apologized for her “wrong, selfish behavior,” admitting that she did not consider the “scope” of her actions when she became involved with Edwards in 2006 and how it “could hurt so many people.” She specifically apologized for the pain she inflicted on Elizabeth Edwards, who died of breast cancer in 2010.

“I hurt Elizabeth and her kids. I hurt her family. I hurt John’s family. I hurt people that knew Elizabeth. I hurt people who didn’t know Elizabeth but loved her from afar. I hurt people who gave their hard earned dollars to a campaign — a cause they believed in,” she wrote. “I hurt people who are married and believe in marriage. Many of these people have let me know that I hurt them. Unfortunately, I was not thinking about anyone but myself. I was selfish. I fell in love with John Edwards and wanted to be with him and that desire trumped everything else. “

I’m remarking on it because the no-responsibility, no-moral language, no-admission, “I’m sorry if YOU got offended by me; what am I supposed to do?” non-apology has become such a staple of modern culture. And this appears to be the opposite.

On the cynical side: Hunter is trying to sell her book right now. But if we (as a culture) have reached the point where wrong-doers finally have to give convincing apologies if they want to make news and sell books…I don’t know, it might be positive? Should we hope it gets trendy?