RI athletes in Atlanta

Please forgive me for the following comments. I am not Indonesian. So I should not speak about the reaction to the performance of your athletes in Atlanta.

I have been coming to Jakarta for nine months. I represent an American technical company. I can choose the countries I do business in. At first I came to Jakarta because of the business opportunity I perceived. I continue to come for that reason, but now I also come because I enjoy this beautiful city and, more importantly, the people here.

As I watched the Olympics unfold on television, of course I cheered for the American athletes, but, I also cheered the Indonesian athletes as well.

I watched with interest the commitment and skill of your participants. But more interesting, far more rewarding, I watched their passion to compete for Indonesia and, win or lose, their beautiful grace.

What is the grace of a people? Is it style, or class, or love, or humility, or all of those things? I don't know. But I know you can see it when the human spirit is challenged.

I am proud of the success of our American athletes. They worked hard and won many medals. Now, if you were to ask me if winning these medals could change the world, I must answer no.

If you were to ask me if the passion and grace of your people could change the world, I must answer yes.

Perhaps your people are destined to do more than win Olympic medals. Perhaps their passion and grace will change the world. And isn't this what it's all about, anyway?

RON CASE

President

NCR International division

Kirchman Corporation

Orlando, Florida, USA