The two “Sorrys”
M Ibrahim Tariq
Monday, July 16, 2012 - Two dozen soldiers, who were there in protection for a blessed state were mercilessly gunned down. The reaction of the native government is now over after the word “sorry”. But the question remains why? Would the murderer of Benazir Bhutto be forgiven if he expressionlessly said ‘sorry’? I don’t think so.
A father would not even forgive his child after a mistake of his without a whole hearted apology; but how can a government do so?I would keenly quote a few years old incident, when an American surveillance plane and Chinese fighter jet collided near the Chinese coast. The Chinese pilot was presumed dead after the jet crashed into the sea. Whereas the American plane was made to make an emergency landing on the Hainan Island in China and the crew was kept in custody.
Later, accordingly to the statement by the Chinese government it was announced that the Americans were improperly spying on them. This story not just about two planes or a dead pilot but it is about what happened next. Four days after the crash, a serious apology was demanded by the Chinese. At first, US officials tried skipping issue with a statement that they regretted death of the Chinese pilot. This could not serve to be enough for the US to be forgiven and their plane and crew to be returned back. Days passed until the US ambassador to China in a letter had to say “very sorry” on the happening of the collision and was made to apologize by his government for landing on Chinese soil without permission. This incident clearly speaks out the difference between the two ‘sorrys’. The first, that is the regret after a loss and the second, which is inevitably a wholehearted apology after something really great that has been done by one’s.
In our case the second sorry must have been expected and then accepted, but the govt, without having a clear concept of the two different meanings, accepted the first one. To mend relations with the US, they have apparently dug graves for our sovereignty. This is terrible for egos of the thousands of fighters standing on borders fighting for our protection, and everyone else who is a true patriotic Pakistan.
—Lahore
A father would not even forgive his child after a mistake of his without a whole hearted apology; but how can a government do so?I would keenly quote a few years old incident, when an American surveillance plane and Chinese fighter jet collided near the Chinese coast. The Chinese pilot was presumed dead after the jet crashed into the sea. Whereas the American plane was made to make an emergency landing on the Hainan Island in China and the crew was kept in custody.
Later, accordingly to the statement by the Chinese government it was announced that the Americans were improperly spying on them. This story not just about two planes or a dead pilot but it is about what happened next. Four days after the crash, a serious apology was demanded by the Chinese. At first, US officials tried skipping issue with a statement that they regretted death of the Chinese pilot. This could not serve to be enough for the US to be forgiven and their plane and crew to be returned back. Days passed until the US ambassador to China in a letter had to say “very sorry” on the happening of the collision and was made to apologize by his government for landing on Chinese soil without permission. This incident clearly speaks out the difference between the two ‘sorrys’. The first, that is the regret after a loss and the second, which is inevitably a wholehearted apology after something really great that has been done by one’s.
In our case the second sorry must have been expected and then accepted, but the govt, without having a clear concept of the two different meanings, accepted the first one. To mend relations with the US, they have apparently dug graves for our sovereignty. This is terrible for egos of the thousands of fighters standing on borders fighting for our protection, and everyone else who is a true patriotic Pakistan.
—Lahore
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