Good manners

Recently I called up an acquaintance who lives in Bogor. His daughter answered the phone and then curtly said to her father: Tuh, telepon which can be translated as : "There. Phone."

I was horrified, not only because of the insolent tone the daughter used to address her elderly father, but also because this woman, who is over 30 and still living in her father's house, actually possesses a degree and is a lecturer at one of Indonesia's most prestigious universities. Needless to say, her studies were paid for by her father (and, as far as I know, he's still paying for them...through the nose).

When I recounted this tale of boorish and impudent behavior to a friend who hails from Padang, he grinned and said: "Listen to what I have experienced. The other day I called a gentleman whose wife answered the phone. I distinctly heard her say to her husband, in a very unfriendly tone: 'Si-Padang for you!'--she probably didn't realize I could hear her.

From these two incidents (and there are probably many more which my fellow readers of The Jakarta Post can testify to), my friends and I have concluded that it's high time for schools to bring back budi pekerti (the teaching of morals and proper conduct in life) as a subject in their curriculum--the sooner the better. And let's make it a major subject on the curriculum, please.

As far as I know, courtesy, correct deportment, and true consideration for the feelings of others are still very much appreciated universally, and they are essential in establishing good relations between humans all over the world.

Of late, I have heard large numbers of people complain bitterly and incessantly about the appalling lack of common decency, sound ethics, and good manners that so many public figures so blatantly display. Instead of only complaining, why not try to do something positive about it--beginning with the children? Let's try to save future generations, at least.

TAMI KOESTOMO

Bogor, West Java