On RI's response to Israel
On RI's response to Israel
Disregarding the risk of drawing the ire of one esteemed
letter writer a few weeks back who questioned whether The Jakarta
Post's highly acclaimed bar reviewer, Bill Blade, "breakfasts on
cliches", I thought it would be good to throw out a few of my own
about the response here to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,
Henry David Thoreau be damned (I think it was he who once said
any writer who resorts to a cliche is a failure).
Nonetheless, it seems to me that with all the major problems
in this country, from an economy in shambles, to out of control
corruption on all levels, one of the worst education systems in
Asia, etc. etc. it just strikes me as extraordinarily
preposterous, even irrational, that there are groups of energetic
youths and students devoting so much of their precious time
protesting against Israel (word to the wise, there ain't no
Israelis 'round these parts).
It is somewhat commendable that they are willing to stand up
and be counted on behalf of the Palestinians, but all their
hootin', hollerin' and flag-burning ain't gonna amount to a hill
o' beans as far as Indonesia is concerned. All hell could break
loose over there, and for all intents and purposes is, but it
won't affect Indonesia one little bitty iota, all the while this
country is going to hell in handbasket in a New York minute.
These local youths with all this pent-up energy, really need
to choose their battles wisely, they need to prioritize domestic
needs and get their own house in order by putting their noses to
the grindstone and biting the bullet to stamp out corruption in
government, business and schools -- here!
Don't get me wrong, it's fine and dandy that the government
comes out with an official statement against Israeli aggression,
that is their right, but for even the top political and religious
leaders to put so much energy and emotion into the issue is just
misguided.
The local mosques should not be exhorting their flocks to go
out en-masse in front of the U.S. embassy to protest against
Israel, they should be telling them to go start small businesses
which employ people, go become honest lawyers or policemen, or
intelligent teachers with the guts to teach integrity and honesty
to the youth of this country.
RICH SIMONS
Jakarta