A nation of 'fortunetellers'

A nation of 'fortunetellers'

The above title tallies with the condition of Indonesia's
political waves in this post-general election period. Nowadays,
political experts, politicians, political observers and even
paranormal people are predicting who will be the president-elect,
the veep and the Cabinet ministers. They also foresee a deadlock
in the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly
(MPR).

We, the little people, only wait for the realization of the
predictions of those experts. One of the bad things in these
activities is negative predictions, such as the general session
deadlock; should that becomes a reality, people power will
besiege the MPR/House of Representatives building.

Another striking phenomenon recently was created by a group of
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle activists when they
stamped their bloodied fingerprints on a banner after a street
rally, given in strong response to the current sociopolitical
condition. Such a phenomenon will destroy the system and culture
of political democracy because it can be taken to mean they were
actually forcing their will on others. How does it differ from an
act of terrorism?

After all, the culture of democracy has just started to grow.
Should we tolerate the fortunetelling and predictions that show
negative tendencies?

ELFRIDA

Jakarta