The Williams sisters
You do not need to be a tennis fan to pay attention to the Williams sisters (Venus and Serena) who this year met in the semifinal of the Wimbledon tournament in London. And you do not need to be a racist to note that they are both black, a fact which may indicate the advancement of the colored people in the United States.
I would like to extend my congratulations to the Williams family on the occasion of U.S. Independence Day and to the U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, Robert S. Gelbard, although I personally sympathize with his delicate mission in Indonesia.
Whether Serene or Davenport will be this year's Wimbledon champion does not matter. More worthwhile is to reflect on the meaning of U.S. independence and the way all the country's citizens are free to pursue the highest achievement in society.
I refer to the freedom of expression and the freedom of enterprise and the spirit of free competition. The fight for Indonesia's independence and the subsequent drawing up of the country's first Constitution was, indeed, inspired by the ideals of the American revolution. I think the nationalist leader Ruslan Abdulgani, who knew the late president Sukarno, can testify to it. After all, democracy has come from the USA under the slogan of a government from the people (through free general elections), by the people and for the people, exactly the same battle cry of the current government and civic society under Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati.
After practicing government for six months, those chosen to govern the Indonesian people along the American model, or rather under the liberal flag modified by the Pancasila philosophy of tolerance and social welfare, have turned it into a "blind date" with democracy. Instead of enjoying a vibrant economy as, at least according to Bill Clinton, the U.S. is, Indonesia has made a mess of the seed of democracy. The odd thing about it is that nobody feels guilty or has resigned as a consequence.
The only thing I sometimes regret is that the USA feels it owns the world. Its concern for international security makes many nations jittery. Fortunately, the Williams sisters, with their appearance, may inspire Indonesians not to give up and believe in the impossible.
GANDHI SUKARDI
Jakarta