Life in the fast country
Have you ever noticed how fast-moving Indonesians are nowadays? Sure you have. But have you considered that their desire to be fast, faster and much faster may be the strongest among nations of the world today?
Just look at the classic example of driving Jakarta style. People race their cars in the streets, never worrying whether their brakes are capable of stopping their cars in time to avoid accidents. Look at those green killing machines on the toll roads that carry the name Mayasari Bakti or KOPAJA; God help you if you happen to have one of them tailgating three inches from your rear bumper!
With their noisy motorcycles, people speed down narrow and crowded alleys, making the place extremely dangerous for small children and adults alike.
People always want to get out of supermarkets and department stores as quickly and as fast as possible, and for that reason they will push into the front of queues whenever they can. Many a time you find yourself stuck inside an elevator because the moment the door opens people just rush in without giving you the chance to get out first. Everywhere, people rush and rush and rush some more.
And due to such a powerful drive to be quick and fast, most Indonesians have naturally become highly impatient as well. Honking is another classic example. As an article in this column underscored some time ago, if you're a split second too slow in moving forward after a traffic light turns green, the driver behind you will surely honk his horn at you--loud and long.
Recently, while I was checking in at the Silk Air counter at Singapore's Changi Airport, an Indonesian lady standing right behind me in the queue made a sound with her lips, teeth and tongue and gave me an angry stare. Apparently I had made her furious because I couldn't immediately find my passport when the ticket lady asked for it. That thirty second delay was enough to turn this fellow Indonesian passenger into such a rude beast. Well, I thought I should turn around and face her, I thought I should say to her "Madam, what's the big deal? Don't you know that the plane won't leave for another one and a half hours?" But then it occurred to me that it would be pointless. This compatriot of mine would most likely remain as unforbearing as any other Indonesian, even when traveling abroad.
However, if we stop for a moment and think about it, could you imagine how advanced this nation could be five years from now if only we could add just two other ingredients--integrity and discipline--to such a compelling urge to be quick and fast? Could you speculate on how enormous the aggregate results would be? Could you imagine what kind of socio-economic transformation this combination could bring about? Isn't this nation truly blessed with such a strong desire to be always quick and fast?
Oh, by the way, there are a few things in which Indonesians are still not quick and fast, though. Just to mention two of them: Saying "Thank you," and, well, getting a job done.
-- Zatni Arbi