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