Subject phrase used to be an expression of "Pardon me", "I am sorry, but...", "I beg to differ with you," and so on, signifying polite objections, slight apologies or a feeling of embarrassment of the speakers. Now it has been widely used to replace "Excuse me" and "Oops", so prevalently, especially among young generation, that it sounds a little bit weird and harsh to an old-fashioned guy like me. But I've accepted that, though reluctantly.
Nontheless, it is totally unacceptable when the drunk driver and hit-and-runner, who killed a promising young woman physician of NTU Hospital on a zebra crossing the other day, was uttering that four-lettered phrase several times, on bended knees and with his face masked, to apologize to the bereaved family and the public. Was the killer unable to use more serious words to convey his condolent messages? Did he just try to say "Oops" with such a frivolous attitude? Either positive answer to the questions attest the failure of our education, especially of Chinese language and ethics which are the real "soft powers" to emulate Mainland China and other countries.
The victim, a prominent young lady, could have saved numerous lives in her medical career but lost her own just in the hands and legs of one of the dregs of our society. Here are my sincerest condolence to her family and my severest condemnation of the killer!
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