Room for improvement

Room for improvement

My reaction, as an expat, to recent letters written mostly by
foreigners could be one of subjective embarrassment. I have no
wish to join in with the vitriolic exchanges, but I do at times
wonder what benefit Indonesia derives from the presence of such
as Sawrey-Cookson, with his numerous complaints and trivial,
self-indulgences with old school ties. He sounds like a cross
between Colonel Blimp and Queen Victoria. His remark that one
correspondent should see a psychiatrist demonstrates the height
of colonial-type cultural arrogance. Fortunately there are some
English people here who, in their own small way, try to emulate
the standards of Sir Stamford Raffles. Apart from his possible
motive of wanting the Dutch out of Indonesia, he surely displayed
a full measure of cultural understanding in his contribution to
independence.

So I write in constructive vein, and offer a few suggestions
which my fellow expats may wish to support.

I believe that an Indonesian-English Society exists: through
such a channel cooperative help could be offered on such subjects
as Education (particularly Sumber Daya Manusia or Human
Resources); Road Safety Precautions; Business/Marketing
Management for medium/small business/cooperatives; Antidotes for
the Fastfood/Soft drinks invasion; a renewed campaign for Dua
Anak Cukup (two children are enough); Overdevelopment of
Shopping/Hotel/Golf-course complexes and Immigration
Regulations/Permits to stay/work.

No lesser person than the American President recently admitted
to the 'onslaught of the American Cultural Juggernaut,' which, at
times, I believe constitutes little short of cultural pollution.
(Some right-thinking Americans might also wish to discuss the
attempt to impose conditions concerning Labor Relations, surely
better left to ILO, in connection to trade privileges). And what
price the Economic Juggernaut?

On the subject of education, a specific point of interest and
concern for me is English language -- and I would state right
away that I fully support all activities which strive to preserve
(and progress) all mother tongues. So I agree with the recent
move to retain Indonesian titles/names/billboards. Nevertheless,
I suppose we have to accept that, for reasons such as the rapid
spread of I.T., English as a global second language is a fait
accompli.

A final point. I feel that the subject of the President's
succession should not be bandied about by the media, to the point
where it becomes "over heated". He is held in high esteem
internationally for his long, hard and devoted effort over more
than a quarter of a century.

It was once said, albeit in a romanticist sense (probably by a
Hollywood movie mogul) that "Love makes the world go round." But
we, none of us need convincing that it is not bickering in
newspaper columns, but love of God, his bountiful gifts of our
natural environment and our fellow men which truly smooth the
progress of peaceful coexistence.

J. WARD

Klaten, Central Java