Indonesians immoral, irrational beings: Experts
Benget Simbolon Tnb The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The immoral and irrational behavior of its citizens has hindered Indonesia's efforts to emerge from the economic crisis that has plagued the country for eight years, experts say.
"Due to moral bankruptcy and a lack of rationality, most Indonesians are easily agitated, prejudiced and very emotional," Sudjoko, a former professor of art and design at the Institute Technology of Bandung (ITB), told a seminar.
The seminar -- What is the Most Pressing Problem in Indonesia: Moral Bankruptcy or the Failure of Rationality? -- was organized by Gramedia Group, the Darma Mahardika Institute and Medco Group earlier this week.
The experts also discussed a book titled Within Reason: Rationality and Human Behavior, written by Donald B. Calne of the University of British Columbia and translated into Indonesian by Parakitri T. Simbolon of the Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia.
Sudjoko said Indonesian officials' statements were often heavily prejudiced and lacking in factual detail. "They are not in the habit of supporting their statements with strong arguments and facts as required by a democracy."
Bambang Kaswanti Purwo, a professor of language at the University of Atma Jaya, highlighted a recent commotion between the House of Representatives legislators and the Attorney General's Office (AGO) after a lawmaker described the Attorney General as "An Islamic preacher in a village of thieves".
"Hearing such a statement, the AGO officials should have maintained their composure. They should have asked the lawmaker first to explain what the allegory meant," Bambang told the seminar, which was hosted by Jakob Oetama, the chairman of Gramedia Group, and Jansen H. Sinamo, the Darma Mahardika Institute chairman.
Panelists also criticized the emotional reactions of government officials to media reports and the results of surveys, despite the fact that some surveys followed scientific procedures.
Sudjoko stressed that most Indonesians were xenephobic.
"Look at what happened when the tsunami hit Aceh. When foreign aid workers went there to help the victims we didn't give them any thanks. Some people were even prejudiced against the foreign militaries, accusing them of spying. While other (non-Islamic) charity groups were (criticized for being) involved in the process of 'Christianization'. Why don't we think positively?," he said.
"Let America's crimes (elsewhere in the world) be seen in one light and their help in Aceh in another. We shouldn't be prejudiced."
Another panelist, Muslim scholar Ulil Abshar Abdalla, criticized people who justified the use of violence in the name of religion.
"Not all activities in the name of religion are good. Violence and violent acts are against the credos of all religions," he said. "We should not use religion to silence our rationality. But many people here think that when we talk about religion, rationality should take a back seat."
Hartojo Wignjowijoto, the founder and leader of the Institute of National Capacity Studies (LSKN), said many Indonesian intellectuals were immoral, venal and selfish.
"Many of our intellectuals have become political prostitutes and they have helped make this country one of the most corrupt in the world," he said.
All the panelists agreed that reforming law enforcers was one measure to begin fighting corruption in the country and in the long term the government had to work harder if it was to win the battle.