It seems that the only valid explanation for the moral decadence in our society today is the total departure from all the time tested and proven old-fashioned manners. Sometimes, it seems as if the simplest courtesy - phrases such as "please," "thank you," and "sorry" - have suddenly gone extinct and are no long part of everyone's vocabulary in Nigeria.

A lot of people in this part of the continent strongly believe that the five-letter word, "sorry" is not included in the African dictionary. Some even have the notion that many of the black faces in our society come with obvious disparity in values and belief system. Larry Adler, an American composer and harmonica player like D'banj said once that the "black face comes with brown a heart" and that having a "vasectomy means not having to say sorry". Perhaps it's not just an issue associated with us in this part of the world but in actual fact, it is all around us. It wouldn't be wrong to affirm that it even flows in our blood. You need not be in a hurry to put the pointer on a particular gender because we are all guilty. While some find it difficult to say 'sorry', others find it extremely hard to forgive especially when they want to prove a point.

Maybe we ought to question the reason behind these ugly actions borne out of self-centeredness. Did it ever occur to us that the main and undisputable reasons for the ethno-religious conflicts and crises in our country today could be hinged on the refusal of one party to say 'sorry'?

Sadly enough most of our moral/Christian homes today still suffer because of pride and ego that eat up the good part of the heart. They never get to see where they went wrong to be able to justify the need to say sorry. They say 'I wasn't wrong so why should I be the one to say sorry?', and so the fight co

ntinues. Little do they know that that tiny action of 'no-sorry' could degenerate into unforgiveness and then into some sort of mini-war.

A little background of war history obviously has it that before a minor conflict turns out to a soaring and sore ravishing war, there was a time when just a harmless 'sorry' would have saved the situation. We have wars everywhere today because one or both aggrieved parties refuse to understand and hide their highly esteemed arrogance and intolerable ego. Interesting, irrespective of the kind of relationship, be it social, official, or spiritual, we need to know that the other person is different in so many things and ways of life, and so there need be an understanding to know how to tolerate one another. Even God gets upset when we stretch him beyond a smiling limit, but he still says we are free and forgiven.

Let us also look inward; it is in us to also forgive. All we need do is to open that door for it to express itself. This means that it would be very possible to save that yet unborn or exiting relationship when we learn and know how to say 'sorry' even when it may sound foolish and unfair on your pride.

You should be a gentleman or lady even in your attributes and disposition. It's poignant to see many of our uncles and big aunties displaying this childish and devilish act. As a matter of fact I beg to withdraw the word 'childish' because even children hardly harbour unforgiving spirit; they are a very good example for us their big sisters and brothers to emulate. Parents also need to take a look at some of the nature of their siblings so as to act right.

Avoid tomorrow's disaster by knowing how to forgive today. Do this by just accepting/saying 'sorry'. When this happens you will be sure to be putting your present and yet unborn generation in a place where there will be peace, love and understanding. Save the five-letter place (world) with the five-letter word SORRY.