A nice way to convey advice

A nice way to convey advice

I agree with Mr. Peter Ganz of Semarang that foreigners should
openly point out any shortcomings in Indonesia (The Jakarta Post,
Jan. 4: Improved service vital for survival).

However, I wondered about his follow-on statement that the
reason some foreign nationals are so blunt about it is because
they love this country and its people. Isn't the real reason one
of frustration and wanting to let out some of that pent-up anger?

Putting myself in the shoes of a foreigner who loves
Indonesia, and wishing to make a difference here, I would
carefully compose a letter and send it to one of the larger
Indonesian-language newspapers. If I could not speak the
language, I would first have it translated before dispatching it.
Of course, if I really cared about Indonesia, I would have
learned Bahasa Indonesia long ago.

I think even the Post would agree that an English-language
newspaper is not the most effective medium to communicate
complaints to Indonesian officialdom or private companies in this
country. Look around any local government or private
establishment here. Unless it has foreign staff or visiting
guests from overseas, most likely the management will rely on an
Indonesian-language newspaper as their primary source of
information.

Actually some foreigners have done a good cross-cultural job
of conveying complaints to Indonesians in their own language. I
can remember at least three letters (to Kompas and Suara
Pembaruan), within the past two years -- by Japanese citizens and
one Australian, writing about problems encountered locally, and
the letters almost certainly were widely read.

The Post occupies a special position in Indonesia -- it is
read by bilingual Indonesians and the foreign community -- but
one must understand that an attitude of "let them learn to speak
and respond in English" does not necessarily go down well with
the vast majority of citizens in this country.

Lastly, foreigners must develop the capacity to speak to
Indonesians -- whether in government or private circles -- as
peers, which of course they are, not as students who deserve a
good, long lecture. In this case I am reminded of a very strident
American contributor to the Post, whose letters are actually
quite counter productive.

There is a nice but effective way to say almost anything, and
our foreign guests need to learn that lesson if they want most
Indonesians to listen, instead of resisting the well-meant
advice.

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta