Gandhi apologizes

I would like to thank Ms. Jilliah Ardie for responding to my remarks on the poor achievements of Indonesian athletes at the Sydney Olympics 2000, in her letter to The Jakarta Post (Sept. 28: Demeaning attitude).

I am very sorry if I have made you or anybody else sad by my remarks, and I humbly offer my apologies. I admit that it was, as you sincerely hoped, an attempt at humor which usually sounds different to different ears. There are, as far as I know, not so many humorous things over which Americans, British, Russians, Japanese or Arabs laugh as equals. The high price of crude in the international market for instance does not make every nation equally happy. Reading between the lines is advised.

Reading my letters requires a critical sense of distinction between what I mean seriously, half seriously or just as humor. I sometimes make my letters complicated to read, with a view to making the readers stay awake or to tease them a little. Perhaps I should have mentioned that only "some" (a certain category operating in certain areas of the city, if you know what I mean) Indonesians run faster, jump higher and snatch more successfully. I admit also, that I do not compare things too much like a scientist. I may not admire all Indonesians but I certainly love them in my heart and would like to help if they are in despair.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta