Governor to legalize casinos?

Governor to legalize casinos?

From Pikiran Rakyat

In TVRI's April 12, 2002, roundup of newspaper editorials,
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso was reported to be intent on legalizing
a casino in the Thousand Islands based on the argument that
attempts to ban gambling had been ineffective.

It makes me wonder why the governor, with his high level of
education and intellectual capacity, has employed such simplistic
logic in deciding on something that is prohibited by all
religions.

Allow me to invite you, Mr. Governor, to follow my humble
reasoning. When did effectiveness become a yardstick by which to
legalize something prohibited by religious norms? What has made
you think that way? Even with schools and religious education,
students in Jakarta keep brawling. So, will you later close down
all public and religious schools for being ineffectual in ending
such brawls?

I would prefer to view the problem from the perspective of the
maximum effort that could be made and the seriousness of the
efforts made, rather than from the perspective of the
authorities' desperation. You may already know of the great harm
caused by gambling. The public should never again be misled by
legalizing this practice. After your being blamed for oppressing
the ordinary citizens of Jakarta (pedicab drivers, sidewalk
vendors), do you have no shame in the eyes of your God even after
the recent flood disaster?

NANANG ABDUL MALIK

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