Miss Indonesia & democracy

Miss Indonesia & democracy

From Koran Tempo

The sending of an Indonesian girl by a private agency to the Miss Universe contest has triggered a debate in the country, with some coming out in favor of participation, others against it and the rest remaining indifferent.

After decades of restriction, the issue has again surfaced. Perhaps when talking about democracy, we overlook its spirit and forget that actions that tend to bring about disadvantages should be avoided.

To certain religious circles, for instance, some body parts are not to be laid bare in public. These views should be respected as they can serve to enrich our understanding of democracy. Those in favor of the contest should respect the freedom of others to see things that are edifying.

As part of the process of democracy, Miss Indonesia should consider the greatest benefit to be gained, whether that is the benefit to the younger generation's education or an influx of foreign exchange into the country.

Even if more foreign exchange does flow into the country as a result of Indonesia's participation in the contest, we may still find ourselves sacrificing the noble values of democracy by misunderstanding freedom and inducing a moral polemic.

ANANG SUBCHANA Bogor, West Java