Nobel prize laureates<\/p>\n
East Timor's Bishop Belo came to Jakarta the other day and met
\nwith Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid and the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party's ousted leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
What they discussed and the statement they issued jointly
\nafter the meeting are already known to you. As I write this, what
\nfirst springs to mind, on my part at least, is not the political
\nimpact that their call for national consensus might bring. I also
\ndo not feel inclined to comment on the referendum issue the three
\nleaders almost in chorus advocated.<\/p>\n
Belo's visit shockingly reminded me that he is, in fact, a
\nNobel Prize winner for peace, though shared with another East
\nTimorese in exile. Whether we like it or not, it was a
\n\"diplomatic slap\" in the face of the foreign minister when the
\nchoice was announced. For the first time, two Indonesians had
\nbeen awarded a prize for peace by the prestigious Nobel
\nInstitute. To Indonesia, and to most Indonesians, the prize was
\ngiven, as it were, to the wrong persons (at least to one of them
\nin exile) at the wrong time.<\/p>\n
It seems unlikely that in the foreseeable future, any other
\nIndonesian, even with the geniuses among them, will receive that
\nhonor (I do sincerely hope I am incorrect!).<\/p>\n
The great number of people calling themselves \"intellectuals\"
\nis no guarantee that among these distinguished citizens a new
\nNobel Prize laureate will eventually emerge. It is beyond my
\n\"nonintellectual\" (to which group writers, journalists and
\npublishers apparently belong) comprehension that some are so
\neager to call themselves religious oriented intellectuals. True,
\nthey distinguish themselves from the general \"uneducated\" public.
\nBut is it not also true that they consider themselves to some
\nextent aloof and separate from the rest of society. Is
\nintellectualism inherent to wisdom and \"better\" than those only
\nculturally imbued minds?<\/p>\n
Indonesia has no shortage of intellectuals but what the nation
\nneeds is leaders whose minds transcends the national boundaries,
\nwho heatedly, not half-heartedly, just for the sake of political
\npublicity, put themselves in the service of others, even if they
\ngain nothing in return. The nation needs people with high
\nintegrity that others can always rely on.<\/p>\n
How barren does the soil feel and look of people considering
\nthemselves to belong to the vast international community; part of
\none single humanity and civilization and thought. To act
\naccordingly, humbly and unshaken when it concerns principles,
\nmore humble and less greedy, proud to sacrifice, regarding honor
\ninstead of profit and personal gain as their ultimate and main
\npursuit in life.<\/p>\n
In the past, colonial bondage produced leaders with a great
\nmind and universal spirit who heroically defied poverty. Now that
\nthis nation no longer breathes the air of colonial slavery and is
\nblessed with freedom to think and act, greater and broader-minded
\n-- but not necessarily materially wealthier -- Indonesians, it
\nmust not be hard to find persons who are worthy of a Nobel Prize.<\/p>\n
GANDHI SUKARDI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nobel-prize-laureates-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }