Challenge, not avoid your enemies!<\/p>\n
It was with an audible sigh of national relief that 200
\nmillion people welcomed home President Abdurrahman Wahid or Gus
\nDur last weekend after a breathtaking two-week tour of European,
\nMiddle Eastern and Asian countries. Many felt that the President
\nwas once more doing a dangerous balancing act on a slippery
\ncircus rope. Many heads of state would have instantly flown back
\nhome on hearing rumors of possible coup d'etat.<\/p>\n
On two earlier occasions President Gus Dur has ignored pleas
\nto stay at home and settle "burning" problems, the first of which
\nwas before embarking on a visit to Washington and Tokyo. He was
\nthen less than two months in power at the time.<\/p>\n
The story behind Abdurrahman Wahid by R. William Liddle (The
\nJakarta Post, Feb. 9, 2000), who is a professor of political
\nscience at Ohio University, USA, and also an expert on Indonesian
\naffairs, provided a valuable insight into the psychological
\ntraits of the popular but controversial Muslim cleric and
\npresident.<\/p>\n
Professor Liddle found out that Gus Dur's popular reading
\nmaterials include a book called My name is Asher by Chaim Potor,
\nabout a young Jew who defied his parents to seek his own career
\nas a painter with no future. Liddle's conclusion is that Gus Dur
\nhas a penchant for contentious issues. He does not try to avoid
\nconflicts but attempts to solve them in an unorthodox way. As a
\nMuslim cleric, only he is entitled to have his own way. But many
\nbelieve now that as he is also a head of state, he should
\napproach and solve problems of state in a more statesman-like
\nmanner.<\/p>\n
His controversial proposal to start trading with Israel was
\nmotivated by his desire to know more about his enemies, with a
\nview to better challenge and conquer them than with their
\nweapons. In other words: Challenge, not avoid your enemies!<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/challenge-not-avoid-your-enemies-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }