Reform starts with yourself<\/p>\n
I read with great interest Pak Habibie's rhetorical question
\n"What's wrong with the nation?" on the front page of the Jan. 2
\nedition of The Jakarta Post along with several recent letters to
\nthe editor regarding poor customer service.<\/p>\n
Having lived and worked throughout Indonesia for six years, I
\noften ask myself the same question. After thinking about the root
\ncauses, I can only surmise that the problem lies not just in the
\nleadership (or lack of it) but in the willingness of each
\nindividual to accept some little responsibility for improving not
\njust their own lives, but the lives of the people around them. In
\nshort, it comes down to a certain selfishness and unwillingness
\nto shoulder some of the blame for their own situation.<\/p>\n
I see this in the little things -- people who uncaringly smoke
\nin areas where no-smoking signs are clearly posted, people who
\nthrow litter out of their car windows, people who cut queues,
\nindifferent or uncaring customer service, dishonest taxi drivers,
\nand people who support the corruption, collusion and nepotism
\n(KKN) system by providing payoffs to the officials. So while
\nblaming the "leadership" they fail to recognize that their
\nindividual daily behavior suggests complicity and implicit
\nsupport of a system they supposedly despise.<\/p>\n
All these "little" acts speak of a nation that lacks not only
\nself respect, but respect for the rights and health of each
\nother. And without self respect, respect for the rights of
\nothers, respect for the environment you live in and, most
\nimportantly, a respect for people to hold differing opinions, a
\nfair and just democracy will never work. Yet it is these "small
\nthings" that are well within the control of each single
\nindividual to do or not do -- provided they have the will to make
\nthe necessary changes.<\/p>\n
So I say to Pak Habibie, what is wrong with this nation is an
\nunwillingness for the individual to accept responsibility,
\nhowever small, that the current situation exists because
\ncollectively each individual let it. It is apparent that, given
\nenough pressure, even the most autocratic leaders step aside when
\nthe will of the people is known. Since that momentous occurrence,
\nthe message seems to be lost that each individual can and must
\nwork to make a difference. It cannot be left only to the
\nstudents, nor can it be the sole responsibility of the "leaders".<\/p>\n
Everyone must be willing to contribute something to realize
\nthe potential that this great country has to offer. So stop
\nblaming the top, and start to lay the blame where it really
\nbelongs -- on the face that looks back at you in the mirror in
\nthe morning while you are shaving or putting on your makeup. That
\nis the individual who can and must take responsibility to create
\ntrue "reform".<\/p>\n
How? By becoming a "leader of one" each and every day to
\n"reform" the way you conduct yourself. Stop smoking in the malls
\nand airports where no-smoking signs are posted; stop throwing
\nyour litter around and trashing your beautiful countryside; stop
\noffering bribes to minor officials to "expedite the process";
\nstart to give and expect world-class customer service. Take those
\nlittle steps to show your neighbors, your customers, your friends
\nand strangers on the street that you are committed to reform and
\nare willing to accept the responsibility that goes along with
\nfreedom by changing yourself first, and not thinking some magical
\nsolution is going to occur simply by changing leadership.<\/p>\n
Good luck to you and your country in 1999. It is a beautiful
\nplace to live and work, with so much promise and potential. Make
\nit happen! Reform starts with yourself.<\/p>\n
PAUL D. GIAMMALVO<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/reform-starts-with-yourself-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }