'Parents, children need more dialogue'

In a recent survey of students by the Cinta Anak Bangsa Foundation, one in two respondents had a tolerant attitude toward pornography, while one in five had permissive views on drugs and violence. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their thoughts on the issue.

Rudy, 40, owns a food outlet in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. He lives with his 22-year-old daughter in Kebon Jeruk:

Frankly speaking, I am concerned about the safety of my daughter, who studies at a private university here. I could not let her live by herself here.

That is why I decided to move here from my home in Purwokerto, Central Java, leaving behind my work there and opening a new business here. I do not want to risk something bad happening to my daughter, let's say an unwanted pregnancy.

My daughter protested, saying I was overprotective and treated her like a little girl. But now I think she has begun to understand why I was so insistent.

Azas Tigor Nainggolan, 40, is an urban activist. The father of two lives on Jl. Matraman Raya in East Jakarta:

Two-way communication between parents and children is very important to prevent children from getting involved in drugs, and to allow parents to monitor their children's activities outside of the home.

When my wife decided to quit her job as a civil servant it was because of our concern for our children. We believed that we could not communicate with them if we were both busy with work.

My wife now has a business she can run out of our house and she can monitor the activities of our children.

I am also very concerned about television programs that are sexual in nature, which is not good for our children. I urge the government to create clear regulations on publications and broadcasts.

-- The Jakarta Post