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