'I'd rather be a hero myself'
For many young residents, the word "hero" has lost much of its meaning, being associated mostly with dead guys streets are named after. In commemoration of National Heroes Day on Nov. 10, The Jakarta Post talked to some young people about what they thought of modern-day heroes.
Anindhita Maharrani, 23, works at the online news portal Detik.com in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta. She lives in Pamulang, Tangerang:
Who are our modern-day heroes? I don't think we have any. I find it difficult to point out even one example of a modern-day hero.
Heroism is about fighting for the rights of other people, sacrificing your own ego to defend the interests of others without expecting an reward in return. And anyone who bothers to look can see that most people, either officials or regular people, help others with the evident hope of some reward in return. While others just do their jobs without any intent of helping others.
I think we are in dire need of modern-day heroes to set an example for us, to show us the good things we can do. I would like to be a hero myself, starting with simple things like disposing of garbage in the proper place and waiting in lines. Hopefully, other people can do the same and become heroes themselves.
Advent Tambun, 27, is a Spanish teacher at Trisakti University in Grogol, West Jakarta. He lives near the campus:
For me, modern-day heroes are people who create job opportunities. The basic idea is the same as the heroes of the past who struggled to create a better life, in their case by bringing freedom to the country.
When entrepreneurs create jobs, they are providing better lives for other people. Of course, I mean those people who create the job opportunities fairly.
I might include exporters on the list of modern-day heroes because they create benefits for residents, while at the same time forging good relationships with people around the country.
Unfortunately, a lack of publicity means very few people are aware of their contributions to the country.
-- The Jakarta Post