Of art and materialism

To mark Indonesia's 50th anniversary, President Soeharto witnessed last month the maiden flight of the N-250, a plane built by the IPTN aircraft company in Bandung. Last weekend the President opened the Istiqlal Festival in Jakarta, at which a special volume of the Koran, beautifully embellished with traditional Indonesian art motifs, was unveiled.

The first is said to represent the nation's achievement in science and technology, the second illustrates its spiritual and artistic accomplishments. Although the nation's achievements cannot really be determined by the work of one particular moment, however lofty that work may be, the two events are good examples of the traditional values of our society.

For a nation which has traditionally valued a harmonious balance between the material and spiritual sides of life, the two events are of equal importance. And, amidst the rapid advance of modern consumerism and the increased intrusions of secular and other alien cultural elements into our lives, a judicious adherence to tradition seems all the more relevant.

Indonesians have started to complain about the omnipresence of sex and violence on television and in movies, they complain about the wealthy flaunting their fortunes, and of the growing tendency to value material wealth above everything else. The government has called on the rich not to parade their wealth, by abstaining from extravagant wedding parties for example.

Many foreign diplomats have commented that ordinary Indonesian weddings match lavish royal weddings in their home countries. However, since the government's appeals have no real bite, nothing seems to have changed. If anything, the display of wealth seems to have increased. Social sensitivity is rare these days.

The lack of morality has reached alarming proportions, especially in the domains of politics and business. Many leading citizens and ministers call for a return to morals. If this aspect of life is neglected, all development in the country will be seen as flawed by the majority of Indonesians.

Hopefully the Istiqlal Festival will help remind everyone that religious, cultural and moral values are inseparable parts of lives. Supporting our material advances with our spiritual and artistic accomplishments will show that we are civilized.