Mr. Barratt's Indonesia<\/p>\n
It would be regrettable for Mr. Barratt to leave Indonesia, or
\nSoutheast Asia, with the perception that people in this part of
\nthe world are more obsessed with money than people in the West
\nare.<\/p>\n
Has Mr. Barratt not heard of Bill Gates? (Yes, I know he gives
\na lot away; but he keeps much more than he needs.) Or the
\nAmerican business executives with their million dollar salaries
\nplus stock options or the sports figures and film stars with
\nmulti-million prices, plus perks, or the European royal families
\nwith untold and unneeded wealth?<\/p>\n
I agree with Mr. Barratt that devoting one's life to wealth
\naccumulation doesn't seem like the highest human calling. But
\nneither does devoting one's time to theater going or reading and
\nother self-centered, self-fulfilling pursuits. Moving to Asia in
\n1989 it was a surprise to me, after having studied eastern
\nreligions, to learn that not all Asians were guided by spiritual
\nvalues; some were every bit as greedy and materialistic as some
\nAmericans are. Greed and materialism are not, like dark hair or
\nblue eyes, racial traits, Mr. Barratt. Neither is generosity of
\nspirit or altruism; these are as in evidence here as they are in
\nEngland or the U.S. or anywhere else.<\/p>\n
Asian corruption is not evidence that Asians are greedier and
\nmore materialistic than Westerners; in fact much Asian corruption
\nis fed by the greedy Western multinational corporations and
\nfinancial institutions that for the sake of convenience and
\nbusiness advantage engage in bribery. Does Mr. Barratt feel that
\nas a Westerner who might be considered wealthier than he actually
\nis, he is asked for money too often? Sometimes Indonesians do
\nexpect foreigners to give them financial help, but only because
\nthey think that whoever has more should help those who have less.
\nThis doesn't seem like a bad philosophy to me. (Unfortunately
\nthis laudable attitude is sometimes exploited by greedy officials
\nfor corrupt purposes.) Even very low-paid Indonesians feel a
\nresponsibility to give financial and other assistance to those
\nwho have less or are in need.<\/p>\n
We're fortunate if we can absorb this value of sharing with
\nthose who have less. I hope before he lives Indonesia Mr. Barratt
\nwill spend more time wandering around his Bali neighborhood and
\nnoticing the human interaction and kindness and generosity he
\nmight have missed so far.<\/p>\n
DONNA K. WOODWARD<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mr-barratts-indonesia-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }