Understanding and tolerance

I'm impressed by Mr. Sia Ka Mou's letters responding to Mr. Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo on debating and democracy in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 19 and on "Sun Tsu's art of war" (Oct. 21). Also by his letter (Oct. 27) "Conspiracy or nation building" commenting on Hafiansyah Mege's "Two-way conspiracy" (Oct. 20).

By sharing his views and his broad knowledge on Chinese culture as well as Indonesian history with the two above gentlemen, Sia has shown his goodwill to make a bridge between the Indonesians of Chinese descent and their indigenous Indonesian counterparts.

Having read a number of letters by Sumarsono which focused mainly on the ethnic Chinese, I can tell that he has in fact a great deal of interest in this particular ethnicity. Unfortunately his knowledge about the ethnic Chinese is very limited, and is mostly based on false beliefs and perceptions. He leans heavily on personal feelings and experience. Therefore, instead of giving a friendly gesture, most of his letters have sounded somewhat insensitive, even provocative to many Chinese- Indonesians.

Most Indonesians, I believe, are broad-minded and fully understand the multicultural dimension of the Indonesian population, and respect the differences that exist among us. On the other hand, there are still many who are reluctant to recognize the rights of others and respect differences.

It will need a lot of effort and patience to help people to open their mind and heart. Mr. Sia seems to be the right man to serve for the purpose, at least through his letters to The Jakarta Post. With the materials and the facts that he has from the literature, he has brought us to the insights and analyses that lead us into a better understanding of the matter.

A number of readers, I notice, couldn't help expressing their anger and disappointment in responding Mr. Sumarsono's letters. Mr. Sia, on the other hand, was not carried away by his emotions. I could see his grief in his letters on the issue (the ethnic Chinese being attacked and accused unjustly, yet he has voiced his grievances sensibly.

"It takes a village to raise children," as Hillary Clinton says in her book. And it takes a nation with the whole countrymen to build up understanding and tolerance, to develop and appreciate the worth of others and accept their different traits, and to understand the values of selflessness, humility, kindness and sportsmanship as the key values in anyone's character.

JENNY LAURITZ KHOENG

Jakarta