Youths, experts speak about heroes at present<\/p>\n
Indonesia is observing this year's Heroes Day on Sunday, Nov. 10,
\n2002. In search of today's heroes in the context of present
\nconditions, The Jakarta Post 's Muhammad Nafik and Emmy Fitri
\nspeak to youths and experts about this issue.<\/p>\n
William T., 15, student at IPKA High School in Puri Indah,
\nWest Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Heroes are people who are willing to dedicate their service to
\nothers. They can be living persons or those who have died. From
\nour school textbooks, yes we know some figures who have been
\nnamed national heroes or revolutionary heroes, but we don't know
\nmore than that. That's already history.<\/p>\n
I think members of the younger generation like me still need
\nfigures to be called heroes. We need people to look up to as our
\nrole model.<\/p>\n
My heroes? I don't know, there are too many names, but
\nbasically my heroes are not today's living persons. Even figures
\nlike Amien Rais or Megawati are not fit to be called heroes, not
\neven a bit.<\/p>\n
Roselyn, 15, student of St. Laurencia High School in Serpong:<\/p>\n
For me heroes are people who sacrifice their lives and do
\nsomething useful for the country and other people. That's my
\nheroes.<\/p>\n
Now I can't figure out who deserve to be called heroes,
\nthough. Is it Osama bin Laden? I don't know. But honestly I
\nadmire Pak Harto (former president). He was so smart in
\neverything, including deceiving people and hiding the fact that
\nhe was deceiving people. Nobody dared to challenge him during his
\ntime. Anybody who were against him would be jailed, that's why
\nthe country was so quiet and sound.<\/p>\n
I heard bad things about him, but I admire him.<\/p>\n
Jane, 15, student of St. Laurencia High School in Serpong.<\/p>\n
My hero is my mom because she sacrificed herself, her life
\nwhen she had me. That's real. Other who disserve that title? I
\ndon't know, because people have to want to sincerely sacrifice
\nthemselves and give something valuable to other people.<\/p>\n
Political figures or well-known artists or athletes cannot be
\ncalled heroes although we know they work hard to give something
\nto the country. But most of the time we will hear or find out
\nthat they still seek personal benefits from their current
\nposition. Or may be have to die first so we can judge them
\nwhether they deserve to be called heroes or not.<\/p>\n
I think I also agree with my friend that we still need heroes.
\nThey must be inspiring people and not selfish.<\/p>\n
Nisa, 19, a shopkeeper living in Depok.<\/p>\n
What is a hero for me? He or she must be someone that fights
\nfor the country, dead or living figures.<\/p>\n
They must give something for the country. Dedication can be
\nanything, reputation or achievement.<\/p>\n
Bung (brother) Hatta (Muhammad Hatta, one of the country's
\nfounding fathers) is my hero. First, because he was cute and good
\nlooking, and he was also not ambitious and clean, in terms of
\namassing wealth for himself and his family. Hatta was a genius in
\nhis time.<\/p>\n
Dena, 23, a shopkeeper living in Jl. Arteri Pondok Indah,
\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Today's hero is Aa Gym (cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar). Our
\ncountry is facing myriad problems, from social to economic. The
\nworst thing is people of different religions are fighting one
\nanother. That's sad, but Aa Gym serves everybody, no matter what
\nreligion you are. He is bridging the differences and help sooth
\npeople in facing the difficult daily lives. He brings us back to
\nGod and to surrender our fate to Him.<\/p>\n
Soeharto (former president) is not really a bad name actually,
\nconsidering what he has done to the country. It's used to be so
\npeaceful here. We don't know street rallies or conflicts.
\nSoeharto was a firm figure. During his administration, our rupiah
\nwas not so undervalued against the U.S. dollar as it is today.<\/p>\n
I don't see other figures, although there are names like
\nMegawati, Abdurrahman Wahid (former president). I don't know,
\nthey haven't proven their dedication and determination to lead
\nus.<\/p>\n
Frank, 20, student at Maranatha University, Bandung.<\/p>\n
Heroes are pioneers and people who are able to make changes
\nfor his or her country.<\/p>\n
It can be anybody from any backgrounds. It can be athletes or
\npoliticians. But now I don't think there are people suitable to
\nbe called heroes.<\/p>\n
There are many figures in many fields but I don't think they
\ndeserve the title hero. I mean, I haven't seen real dedication to
\nour country.<\/p>\n
Veronica, 27, a private employee in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
(Heroes are) those who, with all their heart, are willing to
\nsacrifice for the country and the people.<\/p>\n
Is there any now? There is none today because those who want
\nto sacrifice or to dedicate their lives for the country usually
\nseek chances for their own benefits.<\/p>\n
My hero is still and will always be Jesus Christ because he
\ngave up everything for those who wronged him and he died for
\nthem. Also, we have to say that we have national and
\nrevolutionary heroes because they were living in times when they
\nhad to really fight without considering their individual
\ninterests. If they were living today, I don't think they will do
\nthe same thing.<\/p>\n
Aryo, 22, a university student, Jakarta.<\/p>\n
To quoted Tina Turner, \"We don't need another hero.\"<\/p>\n
It's sickening how Indonesian people always want some heroic
\nfigure. The hero thing is like the myth of Ratu Adil (Just
\nKing\/Ruler). It is about Indonesian people getting desperate in
\nwaiting for someone to get inspiration from, to get them out of
\ntheir difficulties.<\/p>\n
If I really had to point out who the heroes are, it's the
\nvendors, the people who work at the toll gate, the small
\nworkers... Those people who never make a big fuss about their
\nwork, who never ask much from government, honest small people who
\nnever bother other people but work hard, making money for their
\nfamily and themselves.. those people who make the wheel of
\neconomy run.<\/p>\n
Iwan Gardono, a sociologist from the University of Indonesia
\nin Depok.<\/p>\n
Who are our heroes at present? It depends on public enemies.
\nTo me, our common enemy is corruption, collusion and nepotism
\n(KKN). So, those who are able to fight KKN practices are today's
\nheroes. They could emerge from state agencies and public bodies.<\/p>\n
For example, Baharuddin Lopa (the late attorney general) could
\nbe named as a national hero for his courage to combat corruption.<\/p>\n
The criteria of heroes should be contextual and in tandem with
\ncrucial public interests. I think the government's definition for
\nnational heroes is still based on an old paradigm that emphasizes
\non meritorious services connected to the country's independence
\nstruggle.<\/p>\n
That's why the government's decision to honor national heroes
\nis mainly useful for those persons or the state, but does not
\ntouch the main interests of the public at large.<\/p>\n
Today's heroes, either in local and national levels, should
\nalso be promoted.<\/p>\n
Determining national heroes should not be monopolized by the
\ngovernment or state. The people need to be involved in the
\ndecision-making process.<\/p>\n
Programs like the Man of the Year by magazines and other media
\npublications should be promoted to help encourage today's heroes
\nto come forth.<\/p>\n
Budi Matindas, 50, is a lecturer of applied psychology at the
\nUniversity of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Because our common enemy is poverty, our heroes at present are
\nthose who strive hard or have meritorious service in lifting
\nIndonesia out of poverty. The moral decadence the nation is
\nsuffering now is also part of poverty.<\/p>\n
But the problem is that is it difficult to find moments in
\nwhich poverty is defeated.<\/p>\n
Heroes are persons who ignore their personal interests or even
\nsacrifice themselves to win their groups against others. Even
\nstruggling for small groups in the regions, they are entitled to
\nthe title.<\/p>\n
Several legislators who recently resigned from the House of
\nRepresentatives for moral reasons could be called heroes. Figures
\nlike Baharuddin Lopa can also be awarded the title national hero
\nfor his courage to uncover KKN cases.<\/p>\n
Nani Nurrachman, 50s, a cross-culture and cognition
\npsychologist from the Catholic Atma Jaya University in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Heroes are those who are able to stand in sufferings. They are
\nendowed with knighthood, honesty and moral integrity in their
\nstruggle. They have character and struggle for the nation without
\nany interests. Their words always match their deeds. The
\npersonalities they display to the public are very extraordinary,
\nbut they themselves think it is unexceptional.<\/p>\n
True heroes emerge by themselves from the public, not the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Former South African president Nelson Mandela is one of the
\nexamples of a hero of humanity.<\/p>\n
Niniek L. Karim, 53, a psychology lecturer with the University
\nof Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Heroes are persons who dare to risk their souls and bodies for
\nthe sake of interests of many others. They are never concerned
\nwith their own benefits.<\/p>\n
Ibu Theresa (a respected nun from Calcutta in India) and
\nBaharuddin Lopa are among the examples.<\/p>\n
We should not be trapped with those called heroes who receive
\nmuch coverage from the media. Many people who have quietly
\ndedicated themselves for the nation's interests must also be
\nconsidered heroes.<\/p>\n
Heroes should not come forth because of nepotism. The title
\ncannot be awarded to those whose brothers or other family members
\nare holding power. It tarnishes the values of heroism.<\/p>",
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