Don't be emotional!

Don't be emotional!

From Republika

Once I happened to have a glance at the title of an article on
the front page of a newspaper which read something like this: Gus
Dur's followers are furious because a student is imitating the
way he acts.

Brothers, as members of society, why do you have to be
emotional? If you get angry or emotional merely because someone
is emulating your leader's mannerisms, it shows that you are
immature.

Let me remind you of something in the past. Former president
B.J. Habibie was wildly criticized and ridiculed by various
persons belonging to different groups -- students, artists and
even legislators and party members. All this abuse did not affect
the emotions of Habibie's sympathizers. So you are, in fact, less
mature than Habibie's admirers.

You, the Nahdliyin (Nahdlatul Ulama members), why don't you
learn to be more mature. Today, we are living in the era of
openness. So it is only fair for people to criticize the
incumbent leader. Isn't the President (or Gus Dur as he is widely
known) a normal human being, not an angel and certainly not a
prophet. It seems that whatever Gus Dur says is right. Strangely,
this way of thinking is not only found in the ordinary people but
also among the intellectuals.

Their classic argument to justify Gus Dur's words is that the
policy in question has long-term value, which is beyond the
comprehension of the common people. How wonderful!

The late Ayatollah Khomeini is a good example to take. He was
respected by both friend and foe alike because of his controlled
morality.

MRS. OKTO R. TOBING

Jakarta