Good Samaritan<\/p>\n
A distressing news report was published in the Sunday edition
\nof a local paper about a 12-year-old pupil, Haryanto, a sixth-
\ngrader at Sanding IV public elementary school, Garut, West Java.
\nThe boy was so downhearted and consumed by self-pity that he
\ndecided to attempt suicide by hanging himself.<\/p>\n
The reason for this reckless conduct was reportedly his
\ninability to pay the extracurricular fee of Rp 2,500 for training
\nin the making of birds' nests (Kompas, Aug. 24).<\/p>\n
The incident occurred on the morning of Friday, Aug. 22,
\nwhereupon Haryanto was taken to the local hospital. He remained
\nunconscious until Saturday, Aug. 23.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, after receiving a week of intensive treatment at
\nthe intensive care unit at the hospital, Haryanto's life was
\nsaved and his recovery was duly reported in Metro TV news.<\/p>\n
The climax to the story emerged on the evening of Sunday, Aug.
\n31, on Kris Biantoro's program, Dansa Yo Dansa (Come on Dance),
\non TVRI, which features sponsorship by Nyonya Meneer, the well-
\nknown brand of an indigenous herbal beverage medication.<\/p>\n
During the show it was announced that Nyonya Meneer had
\ngenerously granted a scholarship to Haryanto for his educational
\nneeds, from elementary school, through junior and senior high
\nschool, culminating in university.<\/p>\n
Such an act of compassion for the poor may be unique in this
\ncountry, covering three educational levels.<\/p>\n
The futility of the suicide attempt seems all the greater when
\nit is realized that the monetary value of the liability, for
\nwhich Haryanto was prepared to sacrifice his life, was only four
\nU.S. cents.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it was this painful awareness of the cruelty and
\ninjustice that afflicts the poor that miraculously persuaded the
\nmanagement of Nyonya Meneer to rise like a good Samaritan to help
\nHaryanto in the pursuit of his future education.<\/p>\n
S. SUHAEDI
\nJakarta<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/good-samaritan-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}