Mr. Barratt's Indonesia

Mr. Barratt's Indonesia

It would be regrettable for Mr. Barratt to leave Indonesia, or
Southeast Asia, with the perception that people in this part of
the world are more obsessed with money than people in the West
are.

Has Mr. Barratt not heard of Bill Gates? (Yes, I know he gives
a lot away; but he keeps much more than he needs.) Or the
American business executives with their million dollar salaries
plus stock options or the sports figures and film stars with
multi-million prices, plus perks, or the European royal families
with untold and unneeded wealth?

I agree with Mr. Barratt that devoting one's life to wealth
accumulation doesn't seem like the highest human calling. But
neither does devoting one's time to theater going or reading and
other self-centered, self-fulfilling pursuits. Moving to Asia in
1989 it was a surprise to me, after having studied eastern
religions, to learn that not all Asians were guided by spiritual
values; some were every bit as greedy and materialistic as some
Americans are. Greed and materialism are not, like dark hair or
blue eyes, racial traits, Mr. Barratt. Neither is generosity of
spirit or altruism; these are as in evidence here as they are in
England or the U.S. or anywhere else.

Asian corruption is not evidence that Asians are greedier and
more materialistic than Westerners; in fact much Asian corruption
is fed by the greedy Western multinational corporations and
financial institutions that for the sake of convenience and
business advantage engage in bribery. Does Mr. Barratt feel that
as a Westerner who might be considered wealthier than he actually
is, he is asked for money too often? Sometimes Indonesians do
expect foreigners to give them financial help, but only because
they think that whoever has more should help those who have less.
This doesn't seem like a bad philosophy to me. (Unfortunately
this laudable attitude is sometimes exploited by greedy officials
for corrupt purposes.) Even very low-paid Indonesians feel a
responsibility to give financial and other assistance to those
who have less or are in need.

We're fortunate if we can absorb this value of sharing with
those who have less. I hope before he lives Indonesia Mr. Barratt
will spend more time wandering around his Bali neighborhood and
noticing the human interaction and kindness and generosity he
might have missed so far.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra