Good manners<\/p>\n
Recently I called up an acquaintance who lives in Bogor. His
\ndaughter answered the phone and then curtly said to her father:
\nTuh, telepon which can be translated as : \"There. Phone.\"<\/p>\n
I was horrified, not only because of the insolent tone the
\ndaughter used to address her elderly father, but also because
\nthis woman, who is over 30 and still living in her father's
\nhouse, actually possesses a degree and is a lecturer at one of
\nIndonesia's most prestigious universities. Needless to say, her
\nstudies were paid for by her father (and, as far as I know, he's
\nstill paying for them...through the nose).<\/p>\n
When I recounted this tale of boorish and impudent behavior to
\na friend who hails from Padang, he grinned and said: \"Listen to
\nwhat I have experienced. The other day I called a gentleman whose
\nwife answered the phone. I distinctly heard her say to her
\nhusband, in a very unfriendly tone: 'Si-Padang for you!'--she
\nprobably didn't realize I could hear her.<\/p>\n
From these two incidents (and there are probably many more
\nwhich my fellow readers of The Jakarta Post can testify to), my
\nfriends and I have concluded that it's high time for schools to
\nbring back budi pekerti (the teaching of morals and proper
\nconduct in life) as a subject in their curriculum--the sooner the
\nbetter. And let's make it a major subject on the curriculum,
\nplease.<\/p>\n
As far as I know, courtesy, correct deportment, and true
\nconsideration for the feelings of others are still very much
\nappreciated universally, and they are essential in establishing
\ngood relations between humans all over the world.<\/p>\n
Of late, I have heard large numbers of people complain
\nbitterly and incessantly about the appalling lack of common
\ndecency, sound ethics, and good manners that so many public
\nfigures so blatantly display. Instead of only complaining, why
\nnot try to do something positive about it--beginning with the
\nchildren? Let's try to save future generations, at least.<\/p>\n
TAMI KOESTOMO<\/p>\n
Bogor, West Java<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/good-manners-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }