Of art and materialism<\/p>\n
To mark Indonesia's 50th anniversary, President Soeharto
\nwitnessed last month the maiden flight of the N-250, a plane
\nbuilt by the IPTN aircraft company in Bandung. Last weekend the
\nPresident opened the Istiqlal Festival in Jakarta, at which a
\nspecial volume of the Koran, beautifully embellished with
\ntraditional Indonesian art motifs, was unveiled.<\/p>\n
The first is said to represent the nation's achievement in
\nscience and technology, the second illustrates its spiritual and
\nartistic accomplishments. Although the nation's achievements
\ncannot really be determined by the work of one particular moment,
\nhowever lofty that work may be, the two events are good examples
\nof the traditional values of our society.<\/p>\n
For a nation which has traditionally valued a harmonious
\nbalance between the material and spiritual sides of life, the two
\nevents are of equal importance. And, amidst the rapid advance of
\nmodern consumerism and the increased intrusions of secular and
\nother alien cultural elements into our lives, a judicious
\nadherence to tradition seems all the more relevant.<\/p>\n
Indonesians have started to complain about the omnipresence of
\nsex and violence on television and in movies, they complain about
\nthe wealthy flaunting their fortunes, and of the growing tendency
\nto value material wealth above everything else. The government
\nhas called on the rich not to parade their wealth, by abstaining
\nfrom extravagant wedding parties for example.<\/p>\n
Many foreign diplomats have commented that ordinary Indonesian
\nweddings match lavish royal weddings in their home countries.
\nHowever, since the government's appeals have no real bite,
\nnothing seems to have changed. If anything, the display of wealth
\nseems to have increased. Social sensitivity is rare these days.<\/p>\n
The lack of morality has reached alarming proportions,
\nespecially in the domains of politics and business. Many leading
\ncitizens and ministers call for a return to morals. If this
\naspect of life is neglected, all development in the country will
\nbe seen as flawed by the majority of Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Hopefully the Istiqlal Festival will help remind everyone that
\nreligious, cultural and moral values are inseparable parts of
\nlives. Supporting our material advances with our spiritual and
\nartistic accomplishments will show that we are civilized.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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