Cricket 3

As a person who appreciates most sports and the esthetics of culture, traditions and the arts, I find the remarks made by Mr. Ronci relating colonialism to cricket (June 28) quite irrelevant.

To suggest that a social game of cricket in Bali will have any effect on the culture and traditions of Indonesia is laughable and could be compared to a suggestion that the Balinese community living in Australia and who celebrate their auspicious religious days there could have an effect on Australia's sporting culture.

Surely Mr. Ronci realizes that around the world today, the barriers of parochialism that have stifled human development in the past are being demolished. Culture and traditions should be preserved, but that is the responsibility of individual nations. Fortunately the overlapping or grafting of one country's culture and traditions on another country's, commonly known as multiculturalism, is slowly leading to true internationalism and racial tolerance.

I wonder, could Mr. Ronci imagine an Indonesian population devoid of the games of badminton and soccer? Sporting pursuits that originated in Europe and the sub-continent respectively. Or for that matter an Indonesian bereft of the religious diversity so intertwined with its culture and traditions, bearing in mind that Islam was founded in the Middle East, Hinduism and Buddhism in India.

Unfortunately, sometimes the negative effects of "Western" culture can be to the detriment of local culture and traditions. However, overall the result of cultural exchange is moving us towards a more prosperous, tolerant and united world population. Let us not forget that cricket is just a game and all the people of the world love to play games no matter where or how they originated.

E. STEVENS

Ubud, Bali

Note: The last three articles related to cricket should end the debate.

-- Editor