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