More on nightspots

There is much substance in M. Ikhsan's letter on "closing the nightspots during Ramadhan" (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 24, 2000).

I'm inclined to agree with his comments stating that the music does not disturb residents, that the music is controlled inside the premises. Also there is nothing immoral about people listening to music, dancing, drinking or being accompanied by an escort girl. What they do after hours and out away from the clubs is the customers' business. So why on earth do certain religious groups need to worry themselves about the infidelities of others if it is not interfering with their lives?

Here we have numerous religions integrated into one community, and we should all respect each other's religion without trying to dominate the other. Also we should all give and take, but having some religious parties going beyond the call of duty by invading and damaging nightspots is putting shame on them. It is contradictory, to say the least, to a religion which one honors so.

Personally, I believe banning nightspots during these special times is a whole lot of nonsense. It is just another excuse to create drama in Indonesia. Prior to the May riots there was no condemnation of nightspots. Now it is like people are just getting out of hand and finding things to complain about instead of trying to put our lives back into order. What seems even more ironic is the fact that religion is supposed to put love and order into our lives and bring peace. I wonder what God would say to this if he could only see us now?

Infidelities, I should say, and if any, usually occur after one has left the facilities or clubs. So, let's get off our high horses and let things be. It would be more in our interest to concentrate on helping the poverty stricken, which would lessen crime, and lessening crime would lessen the infidelities.

C. PARRY

Jakarta