99 Complaints Against the World


“Yeah, I know that I let you down

Is it too late to say I’m sorry?”  

I’ve always wondered—is it that hard to apologize to someone? Even Justin Bieber can say “sorry” 20 times in a single song. Many of my friends tell me to stop saying sorry—when in fact, most of us, including me, should be apologizing to each other more often. I understand that accidentally bumping into an inanimate object does not require a “sorry,” but that situation completely changes when you physically bump into a live, breathing person. In that situation, it is justified to apologize to that person; regardless, some people feel that not saying sorry at all would suddenly free them from guilt, just as if nothing had happened.

I am probably not the only annoyed person here whenever someone steps on me or hits me on the head with a basketball—and doesn’t acknowledge this transgression. Sometimes, it’s true that I overreact and get a bit too over-the-top. However, it is just one word, two syllables, three seconds—actually, less than three seconds to even mouth “sorry”—yet, that one word is rarely heard. I am not entirely sure of other people but for me, that one word really changes my mood.

Not expressing regret doesn’t indicate any superiority, rather it can only hint at one’s rudeness. We say, “thank you,” “hello,” “bye,” but never “sorry!” How do people expect to study SAT words when they don’t even have “sorry” in their dictionary? We know words like plenipotentiary, but we don’t know “sorry”—Ironic?

Do we need “sorry” lessons? Does everyone have to go back to first grade when teachers forcibly reconciled friendships by making students shake hands and apologize to each other? Sometimes, I wonder if people will feel sorry when they accidentally kill me. If I indeed die in that manner, I hope that I will at least get a “sorry,” and that is my last, simple wish. Isn’t it terribly awful that we live in a world where I have to beg for an apology? While it is understandable that some people forget to say sorry in certain situations, and although they may truly feel badly inside, the victims don’t know until they verbally express themselves with the tool of communication specific to mankind.

On another note, if anyone felt uncomfortable reading this, I am truly sorry.


About Author

Junie Yejoon Kah

Junie (Ye Joon) Kah is a junior and a copy editor for Tiger Times. Despite all the "complaints" she has about the world, she's willing to help anyone that approaches her!

Leave A Reply