No one is a born loser

In your Sunday (March 30, 1997) issue, the Editor published an apology that "Born Loser" would not appear that day due to delivery problems.

But ironically, right underneath this note, you have printed the very same "Born Loser" cartoon!

Who is the "Born Loser" now -- the readers or the Post? Anyway, that was indeed doubly comical!

Last weekend, I had a similar experience. I telephoned a friend of mine who lives in Lebak Bulus, Jakarta. After a short interval, a female voice responded. Imagining that my friend's wife had answered the phone, I spoke in English and asked to speak to my friend. I was shocked to receive the rude reply: Tuan pergi ke Singapur. Kenapa telepon terus? (Master has gone to Singapore. Why on earth do you keep calling?). Having said that, the person slammed down the phone.

In as much as it was the first contact I had made with my friend after a long time, I was simply flabbergasted at this insolence. I was so angry that I was tempted, to call back and give the person a piece of my mind.

But then, I checked myself and put the whole incident in a better perspective. Someone might have made some repeated calls to the woman and she was naturally annoyed at being disturbed from her day-long "siesta."

She was entitled to enjoy her right-royal privilege, especially in the absence of her employers.

Mentally portraying myself in the cartoon caricature of the "Born Loser," I could see that my anger not only evaporated but I could even derive a few moments' pleasure, laughing away at the situation.

Notwithstanding this, I do believe no one is a born loser -- except, of course, for the artistic liberty enjoyed by the creator of the famous cartoon character.

Did you know that even the great Charlie Chaplin, in his lifetime, could not escape from such embarrassment. He once entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest in Monte Carlo, and came in third!

D. CHANDRAM

Jakarta