Politeness to neighbors

This is in response to Politeness by Renthyna P. Manurung (The Jakarta Post, May 27, 1995), which was in response to Bruce P. McLaughlin's letter Respect your neighbor (May 17, 1995).

Mr McLaughlin, you should have felt bad when your neighbors threw garbage into your garden and wanted to beat you up. Obviously it shows that you are not acceptable in your neighborhood. Why? I will tell you the answer is because you do not understand the culture.

The first thing to get straight is that Indonesians are friendly. They like to communicate with nice foreigners.

So why did such a friendly community vandalize your property? It is clearly your fault. You might not have been very nice to them or maybe you got it backwards.

Although politeness may be a small thing, it is important to those friendly people in your neighborhood.

LYNN SIDEBOTHAM

Padang, West Sumatra