Life in the fast country

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