Should we be that critical?

Should we be that critical?

Mr. Robert Walker really is an unhappy man ("Your Letters,"
Oct. 28, Some facts of life). I must admit that I have no
knowledge of conditions in Bali. I only live and work with
ordinary Indonesians in the back streets of Jakarta, with
occasional forays to the outer Maluku Islands and Irian Jaya
villages.

After reading Mr. Walker's last letter I am very thankful that
I rarely meet other expatriates, or maybe they are not all as
embittered as him? I certainly hope so. Of course there are
problems in an emergent nation -- and Indonesia is still only 50
years old. Just compare it with most of Africa's former colonies,
or the Indian sub-continent.

Whether one likes the regime here or not there can be little
doubt that it has done quite a good job -- and continues to do
so. The rich always get richer everywhere, but at least in
Indonesia they ensure that most of their efforts are directed at
improvements for the ordinary people. Benefits for the poor are
slow in trickling through to them, but they are getting there. In
the time I have known Indonesia, and particularly the remote
parts, I have seen many, many improvements.

As for family values one only has to look, (and I can assure
you there is nothing wrong with my eyesight), and see the care of
the sick and elderly at home, the love that is given to all the
children by everyone, and the sense of community responsibility
felt by all ordinary Indonesians.

It is a different culture and it should not be judged by
Western standards. Many of its problems are caused by us, the
expatriates, who all too easily display our comparative wealth.
There is no real answer to this problem but I do not think we
should exacerbate it by being overly critical of our host nation.

I certainly do not intend to continue this correspondence as I
suspect it might be causing hurt to ordinary people.

W.J. STARR

Jakarta