Morality at lowest level

Morality at lowest level

Low morality and, for most, desperate confusion is a
reflection of the society in which we now live. The number of
young people committing suicide or escaping through narcotics
seems to have increased lately. Crimes involving members of the
same family are commonplace.

But how would we classify the case in Sukabumi, West Java,
where a 16-year-old youth, called D., used a long knife to cut
off the head of his mother, merely because he felt unfairly
treated. It was not merely a cruel act. Even describing it as
"barbaric" is not enough; perhaps "devilish" may come nearer to
the truth.

If so, we may well ask if we have lost the battle against the
devil or devils, men and women, which we were warned against
early in religious history and which is constantly mentioned in
prayers of almost every religion?

All right, we have become materialistic, greedy, selfish,
cruel, even barbaric or animalistic in our minds, and not a bit
of love or affection is left in our hearts for other species. But
to intentionally kill your own mother? And to think that the
perpetrator was a boy from a town called Cisaat, where religious
education and its practice are the order of the day in a deeply
rooted tradition.

I call on the whole nation to stop for a few minutes and think
deeply and seriously about the tragic incident of a son killing
his own mother, merely out of jealousy.

The violence and cruelty shown on television shows and on TV
news coverage is partially to blame. But killing your own mother?
May the Almighty forgive him (or does he deserve punishment?).

I blame in the first place the educators, the teachers, not so
much in civil matters but in morality, in ethics, and above all
in the true meaning of religion, the relationship between man and
his creator and between man and man. Traditionally, religious
teachings rarely penetrate the heart and are something more of
the lips (is there something like lip-service to God? The devil
would surely admit so).

I dare conclude that there is something wrong with our society
as reflected in the behavior of its leaders and the general
public, perhaps including myself.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta