THE POWER OF 'I AM SORRY' BELOW.

It is my considered view though that this *I am Sorry* however, has to be genuinely meant and followed up with conscious efforts of the repentant wrong doer not to reoffend. The tone and manner it is said really comes to bear. We are all too familiar with apologies that come out this way, ' If at all i offended you by what i did or said,I am Sorry!' The very fact that one begins their version of an apology with "If" shows they are not even convienced they are wrong or you should not even have been upset about it. They are merely apologising to make you feel better but are not sure of their guilt. This type of apology never heals but even makes things worse for those who sense how empty it is. When the phrase 'I am Sorry' is repeatedly uttered however , it quickly loses meaning and value to those it is said to as it is almost seen as an affront or insult on their intelligence and one crafted to be emotionally manipulative to the offended party. The cultural variation of its use between Africans and Western countries is correct due to our different value systems. Without sparking a needless debate over this, it should be stated that our counterparts are seen to be more emotionally expressive while we present as hardcore fibbers and suck it all in and take it in our stride regardless and do not give out our true feelings. Kozo Shangwee.