Life in the fast country<\/p>\n
Have you ever noticed how fast-moving Indonesians are
\nnowadays? Sure you have. But have you considered that their
\ndesire to be fast, faster and much faster may be the strongest
\namong nations of the world today?<\/p>\n
Just look at the classic example of driving Jakarta style.
\nPeople race their cars in the streets, never worrying whether
\ntheir brakes are capable of stopping their cars in time to avoid
\naccidents. Look at those green killing machines on the toll roads
\nthat carry the name Mayasari Bakti or KOPAJA; God help you if you
\nhappen to have one of them tailgating three inches from your rear
\nbumper!<\/p>\n
With their noisy motorcycles, people speed down narrow and
\ncrowded alleys, making the place extremely dangerous for small
\nchildren and adults alike.<\/p>\n
People always want to get out of supermarkets and department
\nstores as quickly and as fast as possible, and for that reason
\nthey will push into the front of queues whenever they can. Many a
\ntime you find yourself stuck inside an elevator because the
\nmoment the door opens people just rush in without giving you the
\nchance to get out first. Everywhere, people rush and rush and
\nrush some more.<\/p>\n
And due to such a powerful drive to be quick and fast, most
\nIndonesians have naturally become highly impatient as well.
\nHonking is another classic example. As an article in this column
\nunderscored some time ago, if you're a split second too slow in
\nmoving forward after a traffic light turns green, the driver
\nbehind you will surely honk his horn at you--loud and long.<\/p>\n
Recently, while I was checking in at the Silk Air counter at
\nSingapore's Changi Airport, an Indonesian lady standing right
\nbehind me in the queue made a sound with her lips, teeth and
\ntongue and gave me an angry stare. Apparently I had made her
\nfurious because I couldn't immediately find my passport when the
\nticket lady asked for it. That thirty second delay was enough to
\nturn this fellow Indonesian passenger into such a rude beast.
\nWell, I thought I should turn around and face her, I thought I
\nshould say to her "Madam, what's the big deal? Don't you know
\nthat the plane won't leave for another one and a half hours?" But
\nthen it occurred to me that it would be pointless. This
\ncompatriot of mine would most likely remain as unforbearing as
\nany other Indonesian, even when traveling abroad.<\/p>\n
However, if we stop for a moment and think about it, could you
\nimagine how advanced this nation could be five years from now if
\nonly we could add just two other ingredients--integrity and
\ndiscipline--to such a compelling urge to be quick and fast? Could
\nyou speculate on how enormous the aggregate results would be?
\nCould you imagine what kind of socio-economic transformation this
\ncombination could bring about? Isn't this nation truly blessed
\nwith such a strong desire to be always quick and fast?<\/p>\n
Oh, by the way, there are a few things in which Indonesians
\nare still not quick and fast, though. Just to mention two of
\nthem: Saying "Thank you," and, well, getting a job done.<\/p>\n
-- Zatni Arbi<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/life-in-the-fast-country-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }