Seeing eye of children

Not that I'm a suspicious person, but Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's recent gathering in Jakarta for 100 street children to watch Spider-Man 2 could not have been geared toward anything but a public relations boost for the presidential candidate.

Unfortunately, Susilo himself defeated the very goal of the publicity stunt by talking to children as he would to fellow politicians.

The children were streetwise-intelligent, and this was reflected in the questions they posed to Susilo. One child, Anda, asked whether Susilo would evict them from their dwellings once he came into power. Redundantly, Susilo went on and on about how once the economy improved, they would not have to face eviction.

Susilo should have been more forthcoming and honest in his answer. He could have said, for instance, "If I were the President, I would tell large corporations to set aside some of their profit, after taxes and operational expenditures, to build shelters on the outskirts of Jakarta for you children to live in and study and learn skills, so you could all help yourselves and your parents."

Or, "If more large corporations paid attention to their responsibilities, many social problems, including the increasing number of you children who have to live on the streets, could be overcome."

He should have had more respect for the children and see beyond the surface to try and see what prompted questions such as Anda's.

Children are astute -- they are able to see through us and determine whether or not they can trust us adults, even politicians vying for the presidency, such as Susilo.

SURTININGSIH WT
Jakarta