People's fate<\/p>\n
From Merdeka<\/p>\n
As a senior citizen, I was prompted to write this letter after
\nreading reports in Merdeka regarding the IMF orienting (us) on
\nliberalization, the arrest of members of the Democratic People
\nParty in an apartment and a letter to the editor written by
\nMichael De Rozari on social concern.<\/p>\n
In fact, liberalization had its onset three decades ago, when
\nIndonesia turned from \"national and character building\" to
\n\"economic building\"; an undertaking now resulting in the monetary
\ncrisis, which has also begun to degenerate into \"national
\nmulti-crises\" now hitting our beloved state and people.<\/p>\n
In 1957, the U.S.-based Institute of Fiscal and Political
\nEducation published a book entitled Democracy versus Communism
\nwith a view to reeducating the American people, making them
\ncritical and providing them with academically studied comparative
\nmaterials.<\/p>\n
In this way, the American people take pride in being the
\nadherents of democracy and in their patterns of thoughts, methods
\nand systems in the management of their state. They also do not
\nfear communism, which also exists in the United States. This has
\nreminded me of the teachings of our President about the
\n\"superiority\" of Pancasila over other \"isms\". Of course, this is
\nintended to make the Indonesian people have no fear of or be
\nimmune to other established \"isms\".<\/p>\n
I have also been reminded of the teachings of martial arts
\nteachers regarding the principle of martial arts: \"If we wish to
\nbeat or be superior to our opponent, it is absolutely necessary
\nfor us to have a perfect knowledge of our opponent's principle
\nand techniques.\"<\/p>\n
A Western diplomat once told me at a reception something which
\nI will never forget: \"If there is anyone who knows all the dirty
\ntricks of the West, your president Sukarno is the man.\"<\/p>\n
I have never read a newspaper article on \"social concern\"
\nregarding public transportation drivers to the effect that for
\nthe sake of feeding their families, these drivers have to
\nsacrifice their happiness in life, which has been robbed of them
\nby their partners, the owners of the vehicles they operate.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta alone there are hundreds, if not hundreds of
\nthousands of taxi drivers and other drivers of public
\ntransportation vehicles who operate taxis and other public
\ntransportation vehicles on an income-sharing basis. They usually
\nstart from home at 5 a.m. and do not return home until 11 p.m. or
\neven midnight.<\/p>\n
Just imagine their plight. They have to leave home when their
\nwives and children are perhaps still asleep and they return home
\nvery late in a tired and weak condition. Most probably, their
\nwives and children are already in bed when they get home.
\nUnfortunately, they do not have representatives in the Jakarta
\nadministration to pay attention to their fate.<\/p>\n
IPHONSUS P. LOLONG<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/peoples-fate-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }