Festive and rowdy TV programs

Festive and rowdy TV programs

On Jan. 6 at 8 p.m. Metro TV aired a video of the tsunami in
action which was recorded by a family member of the Aceh Police
chief who also perished in the disaster. The family video, which
showed the moments after the earthquake and those leading to the
actual disaster, couldn't have described better how powerful and
lethal the waves were.

It was terrifying enough for the viewers to watch the forceful
wall of water crashing into everything that was in its path. It
was disturbing also to see the distraught family members in total
panic and I wonder with concern whether such private moments
should have been put on air.

As I switched to other channels, I stumbled upon a more
disturbing scene; a scene in which a male singer and a group of
female dancers joyously sang Indonesia mengoyang gyrating
merrily to the beat, as if in mockery of the solemn theme of
Metro TV Indonesia menangis (Indonesia cries).

It turned out to be a dangdut program of Trans TV. I may be
overreacting by feeling revolted. It's a shame that some of the
TV stations don't show enough sensitivity by temporarily
refraining from airing program of such nature at least to show
respect for the hundreds of thousands of Achenese who have died
in the disaster and millions of survivors who are still
struggling to come to terms with the tremendous losses. These TV
stations may be collecting a large sum of money for charity for
the victims, but they should realize that the simple courtesy of
temporarily suspending excessively festive and rowdy programs is
also an equally charitable act.

We don't have to put on a solemn face to show that we care, or
cry in public to show our sadness. Neither do we have to stay
away from our normal activities, or do anything else that is
beyond our means to help the victims. Life does go on and the
lives of the living should go on as pleasantly as possible and we
can do so in many respectful ways. A little civility goes a long
way.

S. W. TJAHJONO, Jakarta