The heart of the nation

The heart of the nation

This is not meant to sound patronizing at all, but when you
are a westerner and live in Indonesia you cannot help but wonder
why there are so many ethnic and religious conflicts in this
country. A lack of a meaningful, open and worthwhile education
must have a lot to do with it, as surely tunnel-vision teaching
only produces narrow-minded students and points of view.

When I first came here I was swamped by the image of family
life, respect, kindness and humanity, but then that was ten years
ago. I'm not saying all that has gone, which it hasn't, but
conflicts, hatred, pious bigots, cruelty, hypocrisy and a total
disrespect for law and order has almost dominated the past few
years, such that all those good qualities, which are indeed
Indonesia, have been stifled and almost driven into isolation.

Also one would accept that the leadership and examples as
given by those running this nation have been appalling to say the
least. That in turn, no doubt frustrates, annoys and humiliates
the people such that they couldn't care less for politics, their
leaders or anything at all to do with the elite on-bloc. The very
heart of the people and the nation has been slowly destroyed by a
system that is built on corruption, greed and power.

It is at times like this, when a major atrocity has occurred
that the leadership in desperate times, turns to the nation for
their support. That support no doubt will come, because in
general the people of this country are sincere, reliable and
united.

DAVID WALLIS

Medan, North Sumatra