Mindanao Daily News
OPINION
By Klaus Doring
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If I see or read this little word "if", my first thought is about the nice song by Bread. Nice lyrics. But, if Ifs and Ans were Pots and Pans ... there would be no need for tinkers! An old proverbs, which hits the nail on its head even much better.
Life doesn't only consists of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Life has ups and downs, and everyone tries to survive in his own clock-shell surrounded by a dangerous ocean. Life is stuffed with plenty of excuses. Sometimes, we are even unable to apologize and say a meaningful "sorry" at the right moment to the person we just treated wrong.
Excuses don't know the question of age. I still have two significant examples to share:
The church was crowded. Confirmation. A woman came too late. Traffic jam. In need of help, the woman looked to the left and then to the right. It looked like a young man planned to help her. He murmured, "Show up a bit, the LOLA likes to sit down". The situation looked problem-free at that moment. But after taking first a deep breath, the LOLA realized the young man's comment. She was just only 38 years "young"! With uneasiness she looked at the youngster, who started smiling at her. How old could he be? 14 or 15? A very big difference already to her age. Then suddenly, the young man realized his inappropriate remark and stuttered, "Sorry Ma-am, please excuse me!"
Choked with emotions, I also listened the story of my former editor colleague in Germany several decades ago. Her mother had expelled her from life. Only while laying on her deathbed, the mother did offer a plea in extenuation because of her lifelong fault.
Excuses, because one is embarrassed or with a simple alibi can be found at every corner. Did you, my dear readers, count already, how many times you used the term "IF"?
Just to mention this example: If I could pass my German language exam with distinction, my partner in Germany would be very proud of me!" Sure, not only he, also me, as your German language professor in USEP - University of Southeastern Philippines, Institute of Languages and Creative Arts. "If my fiancee and I get married, where will I live, one of my students asked me yesterday.
I let you know, IF and when I come to a decision. If only I had known ... .
"If there would be a God, there wouldn't be so much misery, poverty, and war on earth!"
"If there wouldn't be the little world IF, how could we still express our not necessary excuses?
Maybe, you still remember Elton John's song from 1976: "Sorry (in the right moments!) seems to be the hardest word" ... . That depends!
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