An aversion to queue

Anyone baffled by Indonesia's chaotic state of affairs may find the explanation, or at least part of it, in one trait that seems to prevail among the people in this country: An aversion to queue. You find evidence of this everywhere, and, almost everyone is doing it, irrespective of their social status, gender, ethnic and educational background.

You see it at airport immigration counters or airline check-in desks; in the streets, as cars and buses jostle through the traffic congestion; at wedding receptions at luxury hotel ballrooms, as you struggle to congratulate the newlyweds; at hospitals and many government agencies dispensing public services; and at bus and railway stations. You name it, there is almost no exception. And because everyone is doing it, those who don't are either left behind, or left out. Sadly, the old adage "If you can't beat them, join them" is a sure recipe for total chaos, which is where Indonesia stands today.

The Jakarta Post has run a series of articles looking into this issue from different aspects over the last few days. Most readers would agree that some of the findings are disturbing.

Joining a line, it seems, is not in the vocabulary of most Indonesians. The prevailing attitude is that if you can get ahead of others, by whatever means, including the use of force, do. There is no sense in feeling guilty because that's the way the game has always been played in this country.

If this is not part of the national character, it is certainly an attitude or trait that is commonly found among many people here. Whatever it is, we are committing a grave error if we dismiss it as a minor problem, and live with it without trying to remedy it.

But how is this national aversion to queue related to the chaos of Indonesia today?

It underpins the public's attitude toward the rights of other people. By jumping the line, you are actually depriving others of their rights. Conversely, by letting others jump ahead of you, you are actually accepting their action to take your right away.

Do people care? Judging by the widespread public practice and acceptance of this behavior, few people do. This is hardly surprising. This is a country notorious for its record of human rights abuses these last 30 years or so. This is a country notorious for its inability -- perhaps "reluctance" is more apt -- to punish those who violate the human rights of others.

Such disrespect for people's rights runs so deep, and is not only limited to the state, that you would be forgiven for regarding the aversion to queue as a national characteristic.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, this trait is found strongest among people in power, precisely those who are supposed to be role models for society.

Instead of setting good examples, those in power have never been reluctant to publicly flaunt the privileges they feel should come with their social and political status.

These people almost never have to form a line wherever they go in Indonesia. Besides the President and Vice President, many other senior government officials receive the privilege of having the traffic ahead of them cleared before they pass. They almost never have to stand in line because society has somehow willingly accorded these privileges to their offices. They have never had to process their own ID cards or driving licenses, or pay their taxes, again because these have been taken care of.

The concept of queuing seems strange to them, although today, with governments constantly changing, it should not be all that strange. Most of these people were, until recently, ordinary citizens who had to jostle with others for services.

Part of the problem facing Indonesia could be resolved if people changed their attitude on how they treat the rights of other people. We have to start respecting their rights. We have to start respecting queues everywhere we go. We would at least be able to see greater order instead of the chaos we see today, and the nation would be better off because of it.

Where do we start? Education is one, and massive information campaigns for people to get into the habit of queuing is probably another. But most important of all, any campaign to instill the habit of queuing must start by people in leadership positions. They are society's role models. They should set a good example, instead of the bad examples they seem be setting today.