'CNN' becoming boring

CNN has become increasingly boring with the frequent mentioning of that infamous terrorist's name, the American heroes, the wave of national self-pity, the frequent denial of civilian casualties despite the thousands of pounds of bombs dropped.

BBC is much more interesting. Asked if China would become a permanent ally of the U.S., the answer was "I don't think so". Asked whether the American ground troops would be effective, the answer was "I don't know, Afghanistan was known in the past as the graveyard of foreign invading troops (British, Russian)". Asked if dropping food parcels would benefit the Afghans, the answer was "surely for the refugees at the Pakistan border, inland I don't know. It might benefit the Taliban's logistics". Asked if the coalition, which includes some Muslim countries, would remain strong, the answer was "only if the U.S. accepts the Palestinian state".

Here in Jakarta the main streets are regularly filled with demonstrators, men dressed in Arab clothing and women wearing head scarves, marching peacefully or getting pushed back by water canons or tear gas, while visitors at the McDonald's restaurant on the same street, some wearing head scarves, continue eating their meals as if nothing is going on.

A block from the street's tumult, people are enjoying gado- gado and sate at sidewalk stalls, while in Sarinah department store on the same street, women are busy selecting the latest fashion in clothes. I also saw westerners (Americans?) nonchalantly walking nearby despite the warning of "sweeps". There is still no hint of an American exodus.

An American wrote once in The Jakarta Post that he felt safer in Jakarta as an American than as a Middle Eastern scurrying nervously along the sidewalks of New York.

This is in sharp contrast to the news from e-mails from New York where every visitor to a building is thoroughly searched, while letters, parcels and ID's are scrutinized thoroughly and employees must join fire drills like in World War II. Half the shops and restaurants have closed up from a lack of customers.

I agree with the writer. In spite of everything, Jakarta is safer for everybody than New York City.

SUMARSONO SASTROWARDOYO

Jakarta