An aversion to queue

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.