A year of encumbrances<\/p>\n
A review of 1996 will show it to be a trying period in the
\nhistory of our nation. In addition to facing a critical political
\nmoment, we were besieged by a host of urgent problems, ranging
\nfrom economic disparities and social tensions colored by ethnic,
\nreligious, and racial differences to foreign debt burdens and a
\ndeclining income from non-oil exports.<\/p>\n
Making the situation all the more injurious were the many
\nnations in our region busily readying themselves for the new
\nmillennium. The series of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
\n(APEC) summits held over the past four years has revealed a
\nrapidly dawning free trade era which will be marked by fierce
\ncompetition.<\/p>\n
We are moving toward the birth of a world without borders, as
\ndescribed by Kenichi Ohmae in his book The Borderless World, and
\nwill have to accept that the exchange of ideas and lifestyles
\namong nations will take place with an ever-increasing intensity.<\/p>\n
In light of all this it would be easy for us to fall into a
\nmood of pessimism. We must not lose our courage. Even the great
\nAmerican nation is experiencing a convergence of crises,
\ninvolving the disintegration of the family system, changes to the
\npublic health system, urban development gone wild and a rising
\ncynicism toward their once revered political system.<\/p>\n
We too would like to become a great nation like America. To
\nachieve that end, however, a strong resolution and hard work to
\nturn that ideal into reality is needed. It is with these simple
\nthoughts we end the year, praying that this nation always has the
\nblessings of the Lord Almighty.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-year-of-encumbrances-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }