Youths, experts speak about heroes at present

Youths, experts speak about heroes at present

Indonesia is observing this year's Heroes Day on Sunday, Nov. 10,
2002. In search of today's heroes in the context of present
conditions, The Jakarta Post 's Muhammad Nafik and Emmy Fitri
speak to youths and experts about this issue.

William T., 15, student at IPKA High School in Puri Indah,
West Jakarta.

Heroes are people who are willing to dedicate their service to
others. They can be living persons or those who have died. From
our school textbooks, yes we know some figures who have been
named national heroes or revolutionary heroes, but we don't know
more than that. That's already history.

I think members of the younger generation like me still need
figures to be called heroes. We need people to look up to as our
role model.

My heroes? I don't know, there are too many names, but
basically my heroes are not today's living persons. Even figures
like Amien Rais or Megawati are not fit to be called heroes, not
even a bit.

Roselyn, 15, student of St. Laurencia High School in Serpong:

For me heroes are people who sacrifice their lives and do
something useful for the country and other people. That's my
heroes.

Now I can't figure out who deserve to be called heroes,
though. Is it Osama bin Laden? I don't know. But honestly I
admire Pak Harto (former president). He was so smart in
everything, including deceiving people and hiding the fact that
he was deceiving people. Nobody dared to challenge him during his
time. Anybody who were against him would be jailed, that's why
the country was so quiet and sound.

I heard bad things about him, but I admire him.

Jane, 15, student of St. Laurencia High School in Serpong.

My hero is my mom because she sacrificed herself, her life
when she had me. That's real. Other who disserve that title? I
don't know, because people have to want to sincerely sacrifice
themselves and give something valuable to other people.

Political figures or well-known artists or athletes cannot be
called heroes although we know they work hard to give something
to the country. But most of the time we will hear or find out
that they still seek personal benefits from their current
position. Or may be have to die first so we can judge them
whether they deserve to be called heroes or not.

I think I also agree with my friend that we still need heroes.
They must be inspiring people and not selfish.

Nisa, 19, a shopkeeper living in Depok.

What is a hero for me? He or she must be someone that fights
for the country, dead or living figures.

They must give something for the country. Dedication can be
anything, reputation or achievement.

Bung (brother) Hatta (Muhammad Hatta, one of the country's
founding fathers) is my hero. First, because he was cute and good
looking, and he was also not ambitious and clean, in terms of
amassing wealth for himself and his family. Hatta was a genius in
his time.

Dena, 23, a shopkeeper living in Jl. Arteri Pondok Indah,
South Jakarta.

Today's hero is Aa Gym (cleric Abdullah Gymnastiar). Our
country is facing myriad problems, from social to economic. The
worst thing is people of different religions are fighting one
another. That's sad, but Aa Gym serves everybody, no matter what
religion you are. He is bridging the differences and help sooth
people in facing the difficult daily lives. He brings us back to
God and to surrender our fate to Him.

Soeharto (former president) is not really a bad name actually,
considering what he has done to the country. It's used to be so
peaceful here. We don't know street rallies or conflicts.
Soeharto was a firm figure. During his administration, our rupiah
was not so undervalued against the U.S. dollar as it is today.

I don't see other figures, although there are names like
Megawati, Abdurrahman Wahid (former president). I don't know,
they haven't proven their dedication and determination to lead
us.

Frank, 20, student at Maranatha University, Bandung.

Heroes are pioneers and people who are able to make changes
for his or her country.

It can be anybody from any backgrounds. It can be athletes or
politicians. But now I don't think there are people suitable to
be called heroes.

There are many figures in many fields but I don't think they
deserve the title hero. I mean, I haven't seen real dedication to
our country.

Veronica, 27, a private employee in Central Jakarta.

(Heroes are) those who, with all their heart, are willing to
sacrifice for the country and the people.

Is there any now? There is none today because those who want
to sacrifice or to dedicate their lives for the country usually
seek chances for their own benefits.

My hero is still and will always be Jesus Christ because he
gave up everything for those who wronged him and he died for
them. Also, we have to say that we have national and
revolutionary heroes because they were living in times when they
had to really fight without considering their individual
interests. If they were living today, I don't think they will do
the same thing.

Aryo, 22, a university student, Jakarta.

To quoted Tina Turner, "We don't need another hero."

It's sickening how Indonesian people always want some heroic
figure. The hero thing is like the myth of Ratu Adil (Just
King/Ruler). It is about Indonesian people getting desperate in
waiting for someone to get inspiration from, to get them out of
their difficulties.

If I really had to point out who the heroes are, it's the
vendors, the people who work at the toll gate, the small
workers... Those people who never make a big fuss about their
work, who never ask much from government, honest small people who
never bother other people but work hard, making money for their
family and themselves.. those people who make the wheel of
economy run.

Iwan Gardono, a sociologist from the University of Indonesia
in Depok.

Who are our heroes at present? It depends on public enemies.
To me, our common enemy is corruption, collusion and nepotism
(KKN). So, those who are able to fight KKN practices are today's
heroes. They could emerge from state agencies and public bodies.

For example, Baharuddin Lopa (the late attorney general) could
be named as a national hero for his courage to combat corruption.

The criteria of heroes should be contextual and in tandem with
crucial public interests. I think the government's definition for
national heroes is still based on an old paradigm that emphasizes
on meritorious services connected to the country's independence
struggle.

That's why the government's decision to honor national heroes
is mainly useful for those persons or the state, but does not
touch the main interests of the public at large.

Today's heroes, either in local and national levels, should
also be promoted.

Determining national heroes should not be monopolized by the
government or state. The people need to be involved in the
decision-making process.

Programs like the Man of the Year by magazines and other media
publications should be promoted to help encourage today's heroes
to come forth.

Budi Matindas, 50, is a lecturer of applied psychology at the
University of Indonesia.

Because our common enemy is poverty, our heroes at present are
those who strive hard or have meritorious service in lifting
Indonesia out of poverty. The moral decadence the nation is
suffering now is also part of poverty.

But the problem is that is it difficult to find moments in
which poverty is defeated.

Heroes are persons who ignore their personal interests or even
sacrifice themselves to win their groups against others. Even
struggling for small groups in the regions, they are entitled to
the title.

Several legislators who recently resigned from the House of
Representatives for moral reasons could be called heroes. Figures
like Baharuddin Lopa can also be awarded the title national hero
for his courage to uncover KKN cases.

Nani Nurrachman, 50s, a cross-culture and cognition
psychologist from the Catholic Atma Jaya University in Jakarta.

Heroes are those who are able to stand in sufferings. They are
endowed with knighthood, honesty and moral integrity in their
struggle. They have character and struggle for the nation without
any interests. Their words always match their deeds. The
personalities they display to the public are very extraordinary,
but they themselves think it is unexceptional.

True heroes emerge by themselves from the public, not the
government.

Former South African president Nelson Mandela is one of the
examples of a hero of humanity.

Niniek L. Karim, 53, a psychology lecturer with the University
of Indonesia.

Heroes are persons who dare to risk their souls and bodies for
the sake of interests of many others. They are never concerned
with their own benefits.

Ibu Theresa (a respected nun from Calcutta in India) and
Baharuddin Lopa are among the examples.

We should not be trapped with those called heroes who receive
much coverage from the media. Many people who have quietly
dedicated themselves for the nation's interests must also be
considered heroes.

Heroes should not come forth because of nepotism. The title
cannot be awarded to those whose brothers or other family members
are holding power. It tarnishes the values of heroism.