Mentally ill nation<\/p>\n
A mentally ill person may go insane or become a mad man if he
\nruns amok. Following ethnic clashes and interreligious conflicts
\nwhich have turned many parts of the nation aflame and is tearing
\nit apart, as it were, there is no denial that we are, mentally, a
\nsick nation. How could we land back in a situation of \"tribal
\nclashes\" after 50 years of independence? There seems to have
\nnever been any real attempt at unifying the people, or not
\nseriously enough. In fact, it is true to say now that we lost
\nleaders who could unify this nation. What was carried out by the
\nformer administration in terms of nation building during three
\ndecades of power perhaps only the devil knows.<\/p>\n
The people who associated themselves with the Functional Group
\nduring the New Order period are partly to blame for this national
\ntragedy. There could be no worse time to organize a general
\nelection than when stability has vanished almost everywhere.<\/p>\n
Yet, how \"wonderfully composed\" the leaders debating their
\ncandidates for presidency while half the country's people are
\nrunning for their lives. Look at Aceh, Ambon, Timor and now
\nSambas.<\/p>\n
Having left such a bad legacy in nation-building, and being
\nmostly responsible for the country's economic chaos, while some
\nof them are piling up wealth, the ministers feel no guilt at all
\nand are waiting to campaign for better times more for themselves
\nrather than with their mind on the suffering masses.<\/p>\n
Today's leaders are full of ambition on how to get elected as
\npresident or a minister. Fortunately, from the old school
\n(Soeharto's era), I suppose one man stands high above the others,
\nsimply because he listens to his conscience and has the courage
\nto suggest that cabinet ministers refrain from campaigning for
\ntheir parties. His name is Gen. (ret.) Rudini, chairman of
\nGeneral Election Commission. How slow others are to realize that
\ncampaigning for this class of people -- cabinet ministers and
\nparty chairman in incumbent administration who had not been
\nelected -- entails abuse of power that was common during the New
\nOrder era. The reform ship will never reach the new democratic
\nport. Instead, the old (or should I say decaying) mentality will
\nreturn. These people have had their turn and it is time for them
\nto watch from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
Those ministers turned politicians actually have an early
\nstart. Their visits to outlying areas and their activities in
\ndistributing food and financial assistance to those in need may
\nbe classified as covert campaigning. The message is that \"if you
\ndo not vote for us, do not expect to get more aid or keep your
\njobs.\" There must have been abuse of foreign assistance within
\nthe social safety net -- unintentionally, of course.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, Rudini will continue to uphold the true reform
\nspirit until the end of the general election.<\/p>\n
A mentally sick nation with such vast plurality as ours will
\ntake a long and arduous time to heal, while we lack leaders with
\nvision and courage to sacrifice self-interests.<\/p>\n
Whether cabinet ministers should be allowed to go on the
\ncampaign trail is purely an ethical issue stemming from morality,
\nnot so much from political rights.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mentally-ill-nation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }