The art of debating

It is perfectly all right that there were only a few Chinese who participated in the armed struggle for our independence. There were large parts of the Indonesian society which did not participate at all.

Debating is a mental exercise requiring an inquisitive mind and a cool heart. It is often hard to hear another opinion besides the one we dearly relished for decades. We can accept it like gentleman or deny it without using nasty words.

We should be grateful that The Jakarta Post provides a venue for learning to debate. In American schools, debating clubs are very much encouraged. They debate U.S. race relations, foreign policy and the behavior of certain personalities. That's why the Americans I have met in my life had such wonderfully open minds on just about everything.

Let us learn from them, to make fast steps on the long road to democracy.

I thank Mr. Rudy Kusworo for his most valuable information.

SUMARSONO SASTROWARDOYO

Bogor, West Java