‘I AM SORRY’  

Prologue

They are everywhere. You find them on your street corners. School campuses. College canteens. Office cubicles. Everywhere.

Some are students while others are teachers and professors. Some are college dropouts while others are corporate team leaders or businessmen. They are everywhere.

They are hair stylists, graphic designers, air hostesses, actors, sportspersons, and choreographers.

They are farmers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, auto-rickshaw drivers.

You find them in government offices. Shopping malls. Restaurants. Churches.

We are talking about 65% of the Indian population*. They are the youth and the children. They are our next generation.

Written below is my open letter to the next generation of India.

 

 

‘I AM SORRY’

(OPEN LETTER TO THE NEXT GENERATION)

 

Dear Young friend,

Today, as I write to you, I write on behalf of countless dads and moms. I write on behalf of countless educators and professors. I write on behalf of countless politicians and business tycoons. Celebrities, sportspersons, actors, artists. Everyone.

All of us, are the only role models you have ever had. You watched us and learnt from us at home, on the road, in school, on TV, on social media and everywhere else.

Based on what we said and what we did, you modelled your own lives.

Unfortunately, I am sorry, we have not been the best models. Some of us tried our best to be good models for you to follow. But most of us messed it up deliberately.

As you prepare to chase your dreams and prepare to change your world in the next 20 years, I am sorry we failed to show you the right things all the time. I am sorry we did not leave you with a world that you are really proud of.

What we said and what we did, often destroyed you and deconstructed your world.

I am sorry.

On behalf of my generation, I write this open letter to you. I write this letter to you as you prepare to chase the grander dreams in your generation.

I write this letter because I don’t want you to make the same mistakes that we did so that you might destroy your next generation.

Most of you are smart and you already figured out what’s wrong with us. But I want to spell it out so that you and your generation will live out the right values in your generation.

 

I am sorry- we taught you ITS OKAY TO CHEAT.

It’s okay to cheat on your taxes. Cheat on your office stationery. Cheat your wife.

I am sorry. Actually, it’s not okay to cheat anytime, anyone, anywhere, anyhow.

We wish we taught you to be truthful and honest at all times

 

 

I am sorry we taught you- ITS OKAY TO HATE ONE ANOTHER

Hate someone because they look different. Hate someone because they belong to another caste or religion. Hate someone because they belong to another group. Hate someone because you don’t like them.

I am sorry because of this hatred we taught you it’s okay to kill each other.

I am sorry. Because it’s not okay to hate someone anytime anywhere anyhow.

We wish we taught you to love a human being regardless of his or her background

 

 

I am sorry we taught you ITS OKAY TO DESTROY YOUR ENVIRONMENT. 

We cut down more trees because we wanted bigger business. We build larger industries which spread more smoke than health. We destroyed all your play area because we wanted bigger roads to navigate our multiple vehicles.

I am sorry because we have not left you with much place to have fun and breathe fresh air.

I am sorry.  Because it’s not okay to destroy your environment anytime anywhere anyhow for anybody.

We wish we taught you to care for our environment just as we care for our homes.

 

I am sorry, we taught you it’s okay to FLIRT WITH JUST ANYONE

It’s okay to flirt with someone who is not your wife or husband. Flirt and get cosy with someone for just one night with no intention of marrying him or her. It’s okay to flirt with anyone to just get a bigger pay package in the office. It’s okay to flirt as many times as you want without feeling anything about it.

I am really sorry. Because many of you lost your parents, you were left orphaned and rejected at a very young age.

I am sorry because it was not your fault and all your life you carried this pain wanting to somehow grapple with this hurt and frustration

I am sorry because it’s not okay to flirt with anyone anytime anywhere anyhow

We wish we taught you to be faithful in our relationships in all circumstances.

 

I am sorry, we taught you it’s okay to SELL YOUNG GIRLS FOR THE SEX TRADE.

It’s okay to kidnap them, threaten them, abuse them. It’s okay to get them out of their schools destroy their dreams treat them like trash. As long we could get pleasure and money at the end of the day.

I am sorry because no generation ever has been more guilty of this heinous crime than ours.

I am sorry because it’s not okay to sell anyone anywhere anytime anyhow

We wish we taught you to honour the women in our world with all sacredness and purity.

 

I am sorry we taught you it’s okay to GIVE UP ON LIFE IF NOTHING WORKS OUT

It’s okay to destroy your own body with drugs. It’s okay to cut and hurt yourself. It’s okay even to kill yourself. Because it’s okay to give up on life when nothing works out right.

I am sorry because that’s actually not true. When nothing works out, you don’t give up on life, you press on and hang in there.

I am sorry because it’s not okay to give up on life anytime anywhere anyhow.

We wish we taught you to treasure your lives as God’s gift and seek to live for His glory at all times.

 

 

I am sorry our generation failed to be there when you needed us the most. We were too busy climbing the success ladder. Making more money. Becoming more famous. But we did not have time to play with you. Pray with you.

I am sorry for what we failed to be and do.

I wish we taught you how to be more faithful. More loving. More real. More clean. More courageous.

My prayer is that by the time you teach your next generation, you won’t make the same mistakes we made.

I am sorry.

 

Sincerely yours,

On behalf of my generation,

 

Jacob Mathew