We can learn another lesson from Korea<\/p>\n
Thousands of people flocked the streets of Seoul, the capital
\nof South Korea, merrily celebrating the victory of their national
\nsoccer team over Poland in the 2002 World Cup elimination match.<\/p>\n
Like Indonesia, South Korea was also hit by the financial
\ncrisis that swept through East Asia in 1997. Their crisis was
\neven more serious than ours.<\/p>\n
South Korea is not yet entirely free from this crisis. Just
\nlike us, they are still struggling to get out of the crisis.<\/p>\n
However, their hard work in the past five years has begun to
\nbear fruit. It is estimated that their banks will have fully
\nrecovered by November this year.<\/p>\n
What lesson can we learn from the South Korean success? First,
\ndemocracy is the hope of all. For us and also for the Koreans,
\ndemocracy was something acquired only after going through a
\npainful era of repression.<\/p>\n
Then the Koreans have made use of this democracy to make
\nprogress. Democracy is a means for them to get out of the crisis.<\/p>\n
Undeniably, the achievement of democracy entails lengthy
\nprocess, heated debates and joint decision making. Heated debates
\nshould not be just meaningless and protracted discourses,
\nespecially those that worsen our condition.<\/p>\n
The tendency to become involved in endless debates and in
\nfaultfinding seems to be dominant in the democracy we are
\ndeveloping now. Democracy is only an instrument to pursue a
\nparticular interest and will eventually mean nothing to the
\npublic.<\/p>\n
On this score we must realize what major problems we are
\nreally facing now. We must reformulate the reform that is going
\non without any direction now. We must build democracy as we all
\nwish it. We must improve economic conditions and get this country
\nout of the crisis.<\/p>\n
Learning from the Koreans, we believe we can reach all these
\nobjectives if we are all committed to build this country. We must
\nbe really earnest to give the best and leave behind our
\nshortcomings.<\/p>\n
It is easy to find fault with somebody but this is pointless.
\nIt is better for us to identify our strong points, pool them and
\ntap them to rebuild the country that is now at its worst.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/we-can-learn-another-lesson-from-korea-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }