Zionist rationale

I am not denying the story told by Mr. David Jardine (The Jakarta Post, April 23, 1994) about a Jew who took the trouble of driving relief trucks in Bosnia to help the local war victims, including Moslems. This story, though on a much smaller scale, is similar to the many instances of succor and protection given to the previously persecuted Jews by the Moslem rulers of Islamic Spain and, later, the Ottoman Empire. But the point is that some good deeds by some Jews will not and cannot exonerate thousands of Zionist Jews from the crimes they committed against Arabs.

In this connection I would like to refer the readers to The Jakarta Post's editorial of Feb. 28, 1994, in which it quoted the world famous British historian Sir Arnold Toynbee as referring to, in his monumental book A Study of History, the massacre and the subsequent deliberate expulsion of the Arab population from the areas conquered by the Jewish armed forces as "evil deeds comparable to the crimes committed by the Nazis against the Jews."

I am convinced that films like Schindler's List are closely related to and inseparable from Zionism. This is so because the terrible persecutions suffered by the Jews in eastern and central Europe over the centuries, especially the brutalities perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II like those shown in the films, were in fact the rationale of Zionism. In other words, it was precisely these persecutions and sufferings (as well as a desire to live in their own state where they can observe their cultural and religious traditions in peace) that motivated the European Jews to emigrate to Palestine, expel the Arabs from the land they had owned for centuries, and, to set up a Jewish state where people of Jewish religion were given a special preference by law.

Concerning Mr. David Jardine's reference about the apparent absence of protests in Germany when the film was shown there, I think it is easily understandable because the Germans and descendants of Nazis in the audience might feel too guilty about it to protest. What about showing the film in some Middle Eastern country where Jews and Zionists have directly caused untold miseries to Arabs?

MASLI ARMAN

Jakarta

Face the challenge

At first I had hoped that the gracious and logical rebuttals of Masli Arman's sweeping accusations would have opened his eyes.

However his two letters (April 14 and April 22, 1994) confirm the paradox of his position. While claiming insight (far beyond the humble souls he says are prone to riot/protest if Schindler's List is screened) he is guilty of the intellectual non-sequitur -- ignorance is bliss.

The novel, Schindler's Ark, from which the film is derived, was written by Thomas Keneally, whose heritage is Irish-Catholic Australian -- hardly a likely medium for Zionist propaganda. Indeed, in my experience, Mr. Keneally's bias is towards the stories not the protagonists of his novels nor propaganda.

Through his often brilliant writing, generations of world citizens will be exposed to raw humanity with its juxtapositioning of villains and unlikely heroes (like Oskar Schindler -- neither Zionist nor Jew -- simply caught up in historical circumstance).

Unlike Masli Arman and his imagined protesters, the Indonesian people, with whom I have the pleasure of working and exchanging ideas, are quite capable of discerning propaganda. Why? Because they accept the challenge rather than hide behind a veil of self deception.

Thomas Keneally is quite capable of writing a novel depicting accurately the anger anguish and acrimony of the Arabs alienated by Zionism.

GRAEME ST. JOHN

Jakarta

Funding for swimming pool

The photograph in your April 26, 1994, edition of multi- handicapped children in a therapy pool was indeed heartwarming. However, I think you have done many of your readers a disservice by the inaccuracy of the report accompanying the photograph.

Several expatriate organizations have been cooperating for three years to build this pool at Yayasan Pendidikan Dwituna Rawinala. In the early stages of the project a verbal promise was given by a Rotary Club member to the effect that if half the needed funds could be raised, the Club would match that to make up 50 percent of the cost. Sufficient funds were contributed by the British Women's Association, American Women's Association, Canadian Women's Association, Australia & New Zealand Association, Java St. Andrew Society, Woerkgreop, and Standard Chatered Bank.

Midas Pool company in Kemang built the pool for only the cost price as their contribution to the effort, and the ground- breaking ceremony was held last August.

The ceremony referred to in your photo caption was the presentation of the other half on the needed funds from the Rotary Club to Rawinala.

Having been individually involved with this project from it's inception, I believe that your readers will want to know the real facts.

ELIZABETH M. BENNET

Jakarta Note:

Thank you for the correction. We appreciate your assistance in setting the record straight. --Editor

Compulsory education

From Merdeka

On April 25, 1994, Merdeka published letters by Mrs. Atika and Mrs. Eni Sutardjo expressing their hopes that the implementation of the nine-year compulsory education program will not inflict financial problems on parents.

I share the plea of the two writers. I have several children of school age. I admit frankly that if we could not afford their compulsory education, we would prefer to have them out of school, and let them do whatever business possible to help alleviate our financial difficulty.

I know that is not the best choice. But we cannot do anything better. Education is important for their future, it is true. But as far as we are concerned, to earn a living just to survive is even more important.

I am not intending to dramatize the matter or ask for compassion from the Department of Education and Culture. What I am saying is reflecting the cries of my heart. I believe I am not alone in this circumstance.

MRS. NINA KUSUMA

Jakarta

Students roaming the streets

From Jayakarta

Recently I saw a group of students in their school uniforms get into the back of a truck while it was going slowly in heavy traffic. It was very dangerous for them but they looked happy instead of worried about their safety.

We can see incidents like this on every corner of Jakarta every day.

Once I saw a group of students out walking around at 9 o'clock at night. I do not know why they did not go home and prepare their lessons for the next day?

Perhaps the reluctance of the drivers of public transit vehicles to pick up the students is the cause. Frequently we see bus drivers prevent students from getting on the buses because they pay only a partial fare, Rp 100 for ordinary buses and Rp 300 for PATAS buses.

Also, I once saw some students stop a taxi but the taxi driver refused to take them. Possibly, the taxi driver was not convinced that the students had enough money to pay the fare.

There are special yellow buses that are supposed to serve students, but unfortunately the buses are often full of other passengers. The reason is that the other passengers pay more than the students do, so the bus drivers pick them up instead.

This is probably one of the reasons why students are still in the streets long after school hours.

I wonder who should be blamed for this? Who has created such a condition? I am sure that it is impossible to blame the students for all of this.

I think we should look for a solution promptly since student brawls, juvenile delinquency and vandalism are an increasing danger.

ALBERT BACHTIAR

Jakarta