Are You Sorry?

by Hayley Goddard

An apology is supposed to mean something. However in today’s society - it no longer does.

Politicians, sportsmen and the media have all apologised for one thing or another.

But are they really sorry?

“I’m Sorry” is thrown around so much so that one wonders if it carries actual meaning anymore.

People are generally brought up to acknowledge that by saying sorry, they are admitting to being wrong - either in what they said or what they did.

However as society has progressed, people have recognised that if they just say that little phrase, they will not be in as much trouble.

“I’m sorry” is said because people do not wish to suffer the consequences.

Where is the accountability?

In high school when a student acts poorly, they are fully aware of their actions and how it might affect the other people involved.

Yet when they do get caught they are instructed to say “sorry”.

Fair enough, they should be sorry - but generally they are not.

These particular students only say ‘sorry’ to avoid punishment, not because they actually regret their actions.

In the recent documentary “Such Is Life”, Ben Cousins does not show remorse for his illegal drug actions when he was with the West Coast Eagles.

Now, maybe yes, but at the time he was fairly adamant about not wanting to apologise for his actions, yet his ‘people’ made him.

History, in conjunction with the media, encourages people to seem ‘sorry’, as though it is appreciated.

But what is truly appreciated is acting sorry- or at least aiming to make a mends.

'Sorry Day' was intended to bring an end to the sorrow of the Stolen Generation, to move forward, united as Australians, Indigenous or otherwise.

Since that day in 2008 nothing seems to have altered.

According to the Australian Government programs and services for Indigenous people there is still segregation in education, health systems, money brackets, employment.

So has anything actually been achieved?

If Kevin Rudd and the government were truly sorry, surely things would have changed by now.

So what were Rudd’s motives for apologising?

Was he saying ‘sorry’ for the better of the nation and its people?

Or was it a publicity stunt too?

For a student attending Hedland Senior High School, that speech and that 'Sorry Day' had a purpose.

The Aboriginal students had plenty of issues: doubting themselves, acknowledging their lack of opportunities, disrespecting others as well as themselves.

Their future was cast and the ‘whites’ were envied.

This status should no longer be the reality.

'Sorry Day' was supposed to bring about equality, but it does not seem to have made a difference.

Maybe the issue with ‘sorry’ doesn’t solely lie with the apologetic, maybe it also lies with the victim.

Victims should take responsibility to acknowledge the apology and commit to a compromise.

There are still social inequalities and segregated government bodies - so apparently Rudd’s 'sorry' has done nothing. Or is it that the Indigenous are not willing to accept the apology and move forward?

Should society try harder to achieve compromise and equality?

Society expects children to mean the word 'sorry', to acknowledge what it represents and to act accordingly.

This same expectation should be upheld with adults, sportsmen, business and the government.

If elders fail to be sorry, make compromise and do not progress - what can ‘we’ honestly expect of our youth?

With the model that society demonstrates, what can we expect from the youth of the future?

What can we expect for the future of our country?