>we're in a world now that is in many ways broken because many can't work together on common problems.

You weren't trying to solve a problem or work together with people. You were trying to silence a conversation. I get that some people go too far, but moderating civility is different from what you were doing. This was acting on a vendetta, which is as slippery a slope as there can be.

If your unable to recognize that mistake and own it entirely without trying to walk the apology back within the apology, it's probably best you hand over the reins. Kudos for recognizing at least that much.