Moral magnet<\/p>\n
According to a Japanese theory, many businesses, in particular
\nmedium scale ones, have lost their competitive edge because they
\nfailed to recognize the need to stop growing at a certain point
\nand saw their energy burst into thin air like a balloon.<\/p>\n
The ASEAN cluster of nations, originally consisting of
\nIndonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Brunei about 20
\nyears ago, keeps on growing, with membership now at 10.<\/p>\n
Amid contrasting ideologies, its cohesion is getting weaker
\nand losing its original trademark of what the Western press
\noriginally termed \"anticommunist\". Still, its spirit of
\nsolidarity remains remarkably tangible. This magnetic cohesion
\nmay also serve as an example to other groupings of nations
\nwishing to exist peacefully with each other through close
\neconomic and cultural cooperation.<\/p>\n
The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games reflects such solidarity. In
\norganizing an \"extravaganza\" amid the present economic hardship,
\nthe richest in per capita income have saved the day. It seems
\nthat if the ASEAN athletes are running, jumping and swimming to
\nbreak records, the economic problems disappear automatically.<\/p>\n
ASEAN has now shifted its involvement from
\nthe economy to more politically volatile and complicated
\nmediation efforts, such as in the case of Myanmar. This is at
\nleast what the international community now expects from this
\ncluster of nations.<\/p>\n
It should be careful not to explode from growing too big and
\nwanting to play a role bigger than its resources could support.
\nThe more it is involved politically and economically in matters
\noutside its own immediate interests, the more its image of a
\nmoral magnet may suffer.<\/p>\n
The policy of accommodation, so far its strongest asset,
\nshould never be compromised and replaced by confrontation, even
\nin consideration of ASEAN morality. Its best role remains keeping
\nas many parts of the world as possible part of the nuclear-free
\nzone, as I am sure nobody can forget the Hiroshima catastrophe of
\nAugust 1945.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/moral-magnet-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }