Saying what you mean and meaning what you say
If you have watched the thriller ‘Bodyguard from Beijing’, there is a
story that is introduced as the movie develops by Jet Li. He narrates
about a young boy named Yang. Yang knew he was one of his master's
favorite students. Every time he did wrong, he would say ‘I am sorry’
and his Kung fu teacher would overlook his mistake. One fateful day,
however, Yang was playing with his friends and he accidentally set his
Master's house on fire. He ran out to save his life and when he was far
enough, he started looking for his master. But it was too late. His
master had been engulfed by the terrible fire...
He could not say am sorry. He wanted to utter that mono-syllable word ‘Sorry’ but he could not.
So tell me, what would you say if the words were stripped from your lips, from your mind, and you don’t have that opportunity to regret?
Many are the times we make mistakes. Yes it is human enough to be at fault. But do you keep repeating the same mistake just because you can say ‘I am sorry’. Many are the times we go wrong on several decisions which cannot be undone by saying ‘sorry’. In election times we are given a very rare opportunity to bring on board leaders who will mean what they say and say what they mean. But we end up allowing short term gratifications in terms of being 'small' money, jobs or favors to hinder our ability to vote wisely. Sadly though, when the ballot is cast, its final, and the decision you and I make is sealed. If we goof, there is not a way we can say ‘Sorry’. In any case, saying the same cannot change leadership.
Some couples develop an un envious tendency to cheat on each other. Never mind that when one gets into a relationship, he or she must have chosen the ‘best’ partner! Why then a lady or a man would want to go out with another is always beyond me. What is even surprising is that when one is caught in the act, there is always that saying ‘I am sorry babie’ that accompanies a guilt charged face. But what happens if in those ‘journeys outside the marital bed’ you contract HIV AIDS? Definitely saying ‘Sorry’ will not heal you from a disease that even scientists have been unable to provide cure for. Moreover, Saying ‘Sorry’ will not cure the guilt that will always distort your body chemistry forever! So better stick to where you belong!
We must respect the word ‘Sorry’ and not keep uttering it just for the sake. If anything, Saying ‘I am sorry’ is not a sign of weakness. It is a call to manhood or womanhood. It is a sign that one wants to restore confidence in friends and those close. When you and I say ‘Sorry’, it should be because we want to move away from that which leads us to err, it should be because we do not want to repeat the same mistake again. But if we keep apologizing just for the sake of getting forgiven, then it loses meaning.
If you ask the people of India why Mahatma Gandhi was able to do what he did in India, they will say they followed him because of his absolute sincerity and his absolute dedication. Here was a man who achieved in his lifetime this bridging of the gulf between the ego and the id. Gandhi had the amazing capacity for self-criticism. This was true in his family life, and was true in his people’s life. Gandhi criticized himself when he needed it.
Whenever he made a mistake, he confessed it publicly. Here was a man who would say to his people: ‘I’m not perfect, I’m not infallible, I don’t want you to start a religion around me, and I’m not a god. Any time he made a mistake, even in his personal life, or even a decision that he made in the independence struggle, he came out in the public and said, ‘I made a mistake’. This is the kind of sincerelity you and I should develop.
Well, when last did you say “I am sorry”, did you mean it or did you just want to be forgiveness for a short time cause?
He could not say am sorry. He wanted to utter that mono-syllable word ‘Sorry’ but he could not.
So tell me, what would you say if the words were stripped from your lips, from your mind, and you don’t have that opportunity to regret?
Many are the times we make mistakes. Yes it is human enough to be at fault. But do you keep repeating the same mistake just because you can say ‘I am sorry’. Many are the times we go wrong on several decisions which cannot be undone by saying ‘sorry’. In election times we are given a very rare opportunity to bring on board leaders who will mean what they say and say what they mean. But we end up allowing short term gratifications in terms of being 'small' money, jobs or favors to hinder our ability to vote wisely. Sadly though, when the ballot is cast, its final, and the decision you and I make is sealed. If we goof, there is not a way we can say ‘Sorry’. In any case, saying the same cannot change leadership.
Some couples develop an un envious tendency to cheat on each other. Never mind that when one gets into a relationship, he or she must have chosen the ‘best’ partner! Why then a lady or a man would want to go out with another is always beyond me. What is even surprising is that when one is caught in the act, there is always that saying ‘I am sorry babie’ that accompanies a guilt charged face. But what happens if in those ‘journeys outside the marital bed’ you contract HIV AIDS? Definitely saying ‘Sorry’ will not heal you from a disease that even scientists have been unable to provide cure for. Moreover, Saying ‘Sorry’ will not cure the guilt that will always distort your body chemistry forever! So better stick to where you belong!
We must respect the word ‘Sorry’ and not keep uttering it just for the sake. If anything, Saying ‘I am sorry’ is not a sign of weakness. It is a call to manhood or womanhood. It is a sign that one wants to restore confidence in friends and those close. When you and I say ‘Sorry’, it should be because we want to move away from that which leads us to err, it should be because we do not want to repeat the same mistake again. But if we keep apologizing just for the sake of getting forgiven, then it loses meaning.
If you ask the people of India why Mahatma Gandhi was able to do what he did in India, they will say they followed him because of his absolute sincerity and his absolute dedication. Here was a man who achieved in his lifetime this bridging of the gulf between the ego and the id. Gandhi had the amazing capacity for self-criticism. This was true in his family life, and was true in his people’s life. Gandhi criticized himself when he needed it.
Whenever he made a mistake, he confessed it publicly. Here was a man who would say to his people: ‘I’m not perfect, I’m not infallible, I don’t want you to start a religion around me, and I’m not a god. Any time he made a mistake, even in his personal life, or even a decision that he made in the independence struggle, he came out in the public and said, ‘I made a mistake’. This is the kind of sincerelity you and I should develop.
Well, when last did you say “I am sorry”, did you mean it or did you just want to be forgiveness for a short time cause?
