Indonesian psychology<\/p>\n
Donna K. Woodward, as expected, rather than arguing against my
\nvalid points, made a blanket statement that my (and, implicitly,
\nthe Indonesian people's) character is emotional and less than
\nlogical. As someone who has the audacity to hold such an
\nunpopular view regarding Indonesian politics, Woodward is
\napparently not equipped with adequate and valid data. Hence she
\nis not prepared to solidly argue both my and Nova Poerwadi's
\nrebuttals.<\/p>\n
She should bear in mind one factor; being passionate about
\nsomething as distinct from being emotional about something. If
\nshe thinks that she is a sober and unemotional person, her
\nwritings in the past year, on the surface at least, haven't
\ngenerally shown these qualities. However, without advancing any
\nargument, did I ever jump to my feet and tell her how emotional
\nand illogical she has been? So, her defensive statement that in
\nmy writing there seems to be a failure of logic and a
\nsubstitution of emotion for reason doesn't in the least hold
\nwater. It thus begs the question: Who is she actually referring
\nto? Herself or me\/us, the Indonesians?<\/p>\n
In the past one and a half years, as a result of the
\nunexpectedly overwhelming support for my thoughts which I have
\nreceived from readers and the editorial team, I have found this
\nnew career as a Jakarta Post's freelance writer marvelously
\nfulfilling. Many readers, among them prominent figures of whom
\nsome I have had the honor to meet, have called me and commented
\non my writings, and none of them have described me the way
\nWoodward did, namely emotional as opposed to logical. My rebuttal
\non her article can be found on Wimar Witoelar's website
\n(http:\/\/www.perspektif.net).<\/p>\n
I invite her to visit that site and learn the complex truth
\nabout Indonesian politics, so next time she won't repeat her
\nblunder.<\/p>\n
I have one request for Donna Woodward: Please understand the
\npsychology of our people (many of whom are PDI Perjuangan
\nsupporters). We are a battered people, and many times we have
\nbeen deceived by the likes of Habibie and those political
\nopportunists currently dominating the House of Representatives.
\nHence any trust that our system and political elite can bail us
\nout of the immense problems we are facing has worn extremely
\nthin. I don't believe in jingoism and bigotry (God knows how I
\nhate the noises and rhetoric against the Australians), but to
\nhear a foreigner preach how illogical we, the Indonesians, are
\nwithout advancing a sound and circumspect argument, is a bit out
\nof order, so to speak.<\/p>\n
One last tip for Woodward: The art of arguing is the art of
\nliving. We argue because we must, because life demands it;
\nbecause, in the end, life itself is but an argument.<\/p>\n
RAHAYU RATNANINGSIH<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesian-psychology-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }