Indonesians facing morality and rationality problems<\/p>\n
Benget Simbolon Tnb, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The immoral and irrational behavior of its citizens has hindered
\nIndonesia's efforts to emerge from the economic crisis that has
\nplagued the country for eight years, experts say.<\/p>\n
"Due to moral bankruptcy and a lack of rationality, most
\nIndonesians are easily agitated, prejudiced and very emotional,"
\nSudjoko, a former professor of art and design at the Institute
\nTechnology of Bandung (ITB), told a seminar.<\/p>\n
The seminar -- What is the Most Pressing Problem in Indonesia:
\nMoral Bankruptcy or the Failure of Rationality? -- was organized
\nby Gramedia Group, the Darma Mahardika Institute and Medco Group
\nearlier this week.<\/p>\n
The experts also discussed a book titled Within Reason:
\nRationality and Human Behavior, written by Donald B. Calne of the
\nUniversity of British Columbia and translated into Indonesian by
\nParakitri T. Simbolon of the Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia.<\/p>\n
Sudjoko said Indonesian officials' statements were often
\nheavily prejudiced and lacking in factual detail. "They are not
\nin the habit of supporting their statements with strong arguments
\nand facts as required by a democracy."<\/p>\n
Bambang Kaswanti Purwo, a professor of language at the
\nUniversity of Atma Jaya, highlighted a recent commotion between
\nthe House of Representatives legislators and the Attorney
\nGeneral's Office (AGO) after a lawmaker described the Attorney
\nGeneral as "An Islamic preacher in a village of thieves".<\/p>\n
"Hearing such a statement, the AGO officials should have
\nmaintained their composure. They should have asked the lawmaker
\nfirst to explain what the allegory meant," Bambang told the
\nseminar, which was hosted by Jakob Oetama, the chairman of
\nGramedia Group, and Jansen H. Sinamo, the Darma Mahardika
\nInstitute chairman.<\/p>\n
Panelists also criticized the emotional reactions of
\ngovernment officials to media reports and the results of surveys,
\ndespite the fact that some surveys followed scientific
\nprocedures.<\/p>\n
Sudjoko stressed that most Indonesians were xenephobic.<\/p>\n
"Look at what happened when the tsunami hit Aceh. When foreign
\naid workers went there to help the victims we didn't give them
\nany thanks. Some people were even prejudiced against the foreign
\nmilitaries, accusing them of spying. While other (non-Islamic)
\ncharity groups were (criticized for being) involved in the
\nprocess of 'Christianization'. Why don't we think positively?,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
"Let America's crimes (elsewhere in the world) be seen in one
\nlight and their help in Aceh in another. We shouldn't be
\nprejudiced."<\/p>\n
Another panelist, Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla,
\ncriticized people who justified the use of violence in the name
\nof religion.<\/p>\n
"Not all activities in the name of religion are good. Violence
\nand violent acts are against the credos of all religions," he
\nsaid. "We should not use religion to silence our rationality.
\nBut many people here think that when we talk about religion,
\nrationality should take a back seat."<\/p>\n
Hartojo Wignjowijoto, the founder and leader of the Institute
\nof National Capacity Studies (LSKN), said many Indonesian
\nintellectuals were immoral, venal and selfish.<\/p>\n
"Many of our intellectuals have become political prostitutes
\nand they have helped make this country one of the most corrupt in
\nthe world," he said.<\/p>\n
All the panelists agreed that reforming law enforcers was one
\nmeasure to begin fighting corruption in the country and in the
\nlong term the government had to work harder if it was to win the
\nbattle.<\/p>",
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