A timely reminder<\/p>\n
We are now living amid the turbulent efforts of economic
\ndevelopment, which can have a negative impact on our moral values
\nif we are not careful. Because of this we need someone to remind
\nus when we get too far along the highway of material development
\nand to tell us that we need to take another look at our
\ntraditional values.<\/p>\n
It is in this context that we need to watch the congress of
\nthe Indonesian Ulemas' Council (MUI) which was opened by
\nPresident Soeharto last night. The council is an influential non-
\ngovernmental body which was set up two decades ago as a bridge of
\ncommunication between the authorities and the Moslem community.<\/p>\n
Lately the MUI has appeared to be more active in its efforts
\nto act as a moral watchdog for the nation. It has been spending
\nmore time observing negative trends due to which our moral values
\nas a people have gradually changed.<\/p>\n
We have to understand that this change is part of the
\ncomplexity of our drive towards modernism. But the drive has
\noften put us on a collision course with traditional values. There
\nis now a strong tendency among our people to compete for greater
\npersonal welfare. This has led to the view that the accumulation
\nof wealth should have no boundaries and that the end always
\njustifies the means.<\/p>\n
In short, we have seen the gradual disappearance of our sense
\nof social responsibility and of what the people here like to call
\nthe \"culture of shame\". People from all walks of life have not
\nonly ceased to feel ashamed when they are involved in unethical
\nor dishonest behavior, or scandals, but even flaunt their corrupt
\nand scandalous ways of life.<\/p>\n
It is truly regrettable that the majority of people in our
\nsociety seem to have adapted themselves to this reality because
\nthey do not want to be accused of lagging behind. The question is
\nhow to stop the trend and to correct the attitude that everyone
\nhas the right to do anything they want to in this country as long
\nas they do not disturb national stability.<\/p>\n
For those citizens with adequate rational and intellectual
\ncapabilities the fading away of the \"culture of shame\" means that
\nsomething valuable has gone missing -- something that we
\ninherited from our ancestors and that has long been a part of our
\nculture.<\/p>\n
Due to the loss of a sense of shame over wrongdoing, we have
\ndegraded ourselves to the level of creatures who worship the
\nmaterial to the detriment of human dignity.<\/p>\n
It is here that religious bodies like MUI must play a greater
\nrole, based on the logic that religions not only motivate their
\nfollowers to visiting places of worship, but also encourage
\npeople to apply strict moral teachings and a sense of social
\nresponsibility in their daily lives.<\/p>\n
To face this complex problem effectively, MUI not only needs
\nan urgent sense of responsibility, but also some modern
\ninfrastructure. It should first set up a research body in order
\nto draw up a map of the social ills to be tackled.<\/p>\n
And due to the fact that the \"culture of shame\" has been
\npushed aside, not only in private circles but also in the
\nbureaucracy, MUI must find the courage to speak to the ruling
\nelite about the matter.<\/p>\n
MUI chairman KH Hasan Basri was right when he said that the
\ncouncil is not sermonizing when it criticizes. He sees the MUI's
\ncomments on current social behavior as a reminder to the public
\nof the traditional moral values that have served this nation
\nwell. And, in particular, as a reminder to the people in
\nauthority, that they took solemn oaths of moral and ethical
\nimport upon assuming their positions of power.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, in our culture where the remnants of the old
\nfeudalistic ways are still alive, sending this important message
\nhome may be easier said than done.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-timely-reminder-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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