Can we stop apologising for having an opinion

I just did a search on Google Images for the term "in my opinion" trying to find a picture to go with this post and I was astonished. I was not astonished by how many pictures there are (actually there were only four) but by the search revealing122,000,000 results. That's a lot of people out there who are busy apologising for having an opinion, WHY???

http://goodtimeswithmo.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/imo-logo.jpg

I mean, I am writing this whilesitting through a discussion at Cadet School during a lively discussion Mandela/Race/ Reconciliation etc. Now we are meant to be learning how to write in Shorthand but this is far more interesting for reasons that may not be obvious to everyone reading this

 I am distracted to a point of being annoyed because people are apologising for having valid points. I have the urge to stop them and ask "why the F*** are you apologising for having an opinion"? What would happen if we all made statements that were not followed by 'im just saying' or any of its other variations.

 I will tell you what would happen and it is going to shock you: ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Perhaps I am arrogant. Who knows? But I really think that the one thing we are all entitled to is an opinion. If you say something I agree/disagree with, please do not add right at the end of your beautiful speech "that is only my opinion". Because you have not only made your statement redundant but you have also given me a strong urge to take off my boot and throw you with it.

Here is advice from one of my favourite writers, Siphiwe Mpye, which sums up my whole rant :

• " Never say: “In my opinion...it’s just my opinion…I am entitled to my opinion” and the like. A man (and woman) never apologises for his opinion"

**I added the stuff in brackets this was in a post addressed to his unborn son, read it here