Distinction without honor

Distinction without honor

In the beginning, medals of honor were awarded as part of a
ritual to salute Indonesia's Independence Day. That independence
was after all won through the sacrifice of lives and blood and by
the mustering of an extraordinary patriotic elan. For that
reason, each year pending Aug. 17, this nation selects those
considered most worthy of being bestowed with the highest honors
available, in accordance with their merits and the services they
have rendered the nation.

Over time, though, the formality of awarding those tokens of
merit shifted in meaning and from an elevated ritual became a
undistinguished ceremony. The principal character of the ritual
was lost and, unfortunately, not only its "soul" was lost but
also the deserving personalities involved. We no longer seem to
know who deserves to be honored and who doesn't. Last year, we
were stunned to learn that Dr. Hasri Ainun Habibie, President
Habibie's wife, was awarded the Adipratama medal, even though she
had been first lady for just a few months. J.E. Habibie,
President Habibie's younger brother, was awarded the Mahaputera
Utama medal of merit.

This time we are once again stunned because, amid all the
public outburst aimed at the person in question, Baramuli was
also given a medal of merit. Many of this year's recipients are
unworthy of being given such a distinction -- not on the
neighborhood level and much less on the national.

Our medals of merit have lost their distinction. They have
become no more than a routine part of our Independence Day
celebrations and must be accepted with shame. But is there any
feeling of shame left in us?

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta