Gus Dur and magnanimity<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
As a sympathizer of the National Awakening Party (PKB) I
\nwelcomed enthusiastically the party's idea to nominate Nurcholish
\nMadjid as an alternative presidential candidate, but was greatly
\ndisappointed to learn that former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur"
\nWahid had rejected the idea on the grounds that Nurcholish did
\nnot agree with unseating Megawati Soekarnoputri from the
\npresidency before 2005 (Kompas, March 27, 2003). Gus Dur said
\nthat the respected ulemas had appointed him as the party's sole
\npresidential candidate.<\/p>\n
In this context, Gus Dur must show greater magnanimity and
\nallow younger leaders in the party, for example the party's
\nchairman Alwi Shihab, to run for the presidency.<\/p>\n
It is still fresh in our minds that when Gus Dur was president
\nhe faced a lot of resistance from the community. Learning from
\nthis, PKB must put its house in order so that it will no longer
\ndepend on the decision of its respectable ulemas for its
\npresidential candidate. As a moderate and modern party, PKB must
\ntake into account someone's work ethics and leadership before
\nnaming him or her its presidential candidate. Besides, the
\ncandidate must also be in really good health.<\/p>\n
If Gus Dur is magnanimous enough to refuse being named the
\npresidential candidate for PKB, he will always be remembered by
\nthe community, command respect, particularly among members of the
\nNahdlatul Ulama (NU), and earn the respect of Kyai Langitan, the
\nrespectable ulemas of NU.<\/p>\n
MUHAIL, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/gus-dur-and-magnanimity-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }