On debating and democracy

On debating and democracy

I am writing in response to Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's letter
of Oct. 9 on debating, armed struggles and democracy.

I read a book titled Indonesia, images from the past and on
page 14, it reads: "... at the turn of the century, the Dutch
colonial army numbered 34,050: 1,350 Dutch officers, 10,500
European non-commissioned officers (including Jean Demmeni) and
troops, 5,700 Ambonese and 16,500 recruits from the other islands
in the archipelago." Having read this, I can only say to myself
that luckily no ethnic Chinese are listed here, otherwise I or
other Chinese-Indonesians now would have to inherit these past
sins and would have to be blamed. We tend to blame the past too
much for the present, as if all sins and crimes are inheritable.

During the Japanese occupation period, owing to the Japanese
military expedition in China, any Chinese showing signs of
resistance were quickly hunted down, and no Chinese were trained
and thus as ready as the Pembela Tanah Air or defenders of the
fatherland for major armed struggles but, yet, there were quite a
few, too.

With regard to debating with an inquisitive mind and a cold
heart and learning from American friends for democracy, I recall
that Peter F. Gontha said something philosophical during his
televised debate on the Control Board System (CBS) early this
year, when he said that debating was good for democracy but not
for information. It was even worse if the information provided
was inflammatory and accusatory in nature.

I am also not sure if Sumarsono watched the CNN live coverage
of the lively congressional debates on the impeachment enquiry of
President Clinton's sexual misdemeanor; whether it was merely sex
or lies under oath or both, and if Sumarsono also has drawn some
inspiration from that debates.

America is also not a country without its own problems on
debates, democracy and human rights. The International Herald
Tribune of Oct. 13, 1998, reports on the police brutality and
treatment of female inmates as sex slaves to guards and male
prisoners. And the Economist magazine of Oct. 10, 1998, details
on page 37 the Amnesty International's report chronicling human
rights abuses in America's criminal justice system, with an
allegation that Californian state prison guards bet on
"gladiator" fights between inmates. And the report contends that
the government has done little to redress them.

During congressional debates on the Clinton-Lewinsky case, we
did not hear any blame put on Monica Lewinsky for being sexy,
having caused President Clinton's misdemeanor. Neither did we
hear anyone cite the example from overseas defending President
Clinton, especially that of President Mitterand, who fathered an
illegitimate daughter while in office.

I am of the opinion that after 53 years of independence, we do
not need to learn from our American friends about debating,
neither do we need to pull out our overseas education credential
just to give weight to or substantiate our arguments. I am afraid
that by doing so we have encouraged foreigners to try to teach us
how to talk appropriately and by doing so, they would even feel
entitled to.

SIA KA MOU

Jakarta