Zionist acts
I found it amazing that certain participants in the current debate on Schindler's List and Zionism had a tendency to cite events in Sudan, Ethiopia, Algeria, Tibet, etc. which are hardly relevant to the topic of discussion. But a more outstanding common denominator among them was the wrong perception as if the Hebron massacre was the only major crime committed by the Zionists, because Hebron is in fact only one example out of many. Let me therefore give some specific examples and data in order to put the matter in a better perspective:
1. In 1945 a Zionist gang ruthlessly assassinated Lord Moyne, the British High Commissioner to the Middle East, because he was considered by the Jews an enemy and usurper of power.
2. In 1946 the same group of Zionist militias blew up King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing 91 civilians in the process.
3. In 1947 a group of Zionist commando, called Irgun, raided an Arab village of Deyr Yasin and killed all its 254 inhabitants.
4. In 1948 the well-respected United Nations envoy, Count Folke Bernadotte of Sweden, was murdered by another group of Zionist militias called Stern Gang, who was deeply angered by the Count's proposal that the Arab refugees should be returned to their homes in Israel.
5. Islam's third holiest shrine, the Al-Akhsa Mosque in Jerusalem, was set alight by a Zionist in 1969, and an attempt to blow it up was again made early this year. What makes these despicable acts even worse is the fact that religious discrimination in favor of the Jews is officially practiced in Israel. A Christian or Moslem can only hope to become a second class citizen at best.
I hope the above examples should help to convince the writers referred to above that the deeds committed by the Jews are a great deal worse than any atrocities that may have been inflicted by the Arabs to the Jews in retaliation. And I think it is too early to be magnanimous to the Jews as suggested by Mr. Chandra Muzaffar of Malaysia (The Jakarta Post, May 3, 1994).
MASLI ARMAN
Jakarta
Land called home
I hope this is going to be the last letter on the Schindler's List and Zionism controversy. Ms. Ratnaningsih said she wouldn't generalize about one race or one religion's followers (The Jakarta Post, May 3, 1994).
Now if I may share my opinions, Zionism is not solely a matter of religion nor race. It's a matter of searching 'a land called home,' but sadly in a very short time it turned into an issue of human greed and arrogance, an issue of human rights violations.
I should say that Schindler's List is meant to remind us more about the Jewish holocaust, but in a way it surely has added to the long list of accreditation towards Zionism. I could only hope that it would also remind us about other previous holocausts, most of which were more dreadful than the Jewish holocaust, in the American continent, Australia, Africa, and Asia, which we tend to put aside. And I just wish we would not forget today's holocausts which are happening before our very eyes in Bosnia and other parts of the world. What happened before our time is not our responsibility, but it is going to be our sin if we don't do something about what is happening around us now.
A. KERMAPUTRA
Jakarta
Unethical advertisement
From Media Indonesia
There are many ways for producers to advertise their products, either through the print or electronic media, with the single aim of attracting as many consumers as possible to love and use the products.
However, I once heard a commercial radio station air an advertisement of Laurier's product--sanitary stuff exclusively meant for women--introduced by a male-broadcaster. I felt extremely uneasy upon listening to him explain in great detail how to use it, and clean it after use. How on earth is a man, with no relevance at all to that stuff, entrusted to carry out such a program?
It is surely the right of the radio station to carry whatever advertisement it wishes as part of its business, which nobody cares about, but the ethics should not be ignored.
ROSI L
Bogor, West Java
Crime and booze
From Tempo
Crime stories have been very much in evidence in recent days. And most of the crimes were committed by jobless youngsters and students.
I would like to question two things which are most probably related to crimes: 1) Who are the owners of liquor factories and why are they built in Indonesia, a country with a predominantly Moslem population? 2) Why does the government allow businessmen to build liquor factories, while at the same time it is trying to develop a good younger generation. Isn't this a paradox?
We must admit that social problems around us are now worse than ever. Unemployment and crime are increasing, and the social gap between the rich and the poor is widening. This is a deadly time bomb which could explode at any time with serious repercussions.
The people have grown weary of labor strikes and reports of the poor people being taken advantage of. We also have had enough stories of our forests being allocated just for certain people, of the government or big companies forcing people to move from their land in return for little compensation.
And recently, we have been a witnesses to the brutal killing of an army general.
SAFTI HIDAYAT
Bandung
RI needs caning punishment
From Jayakarta
I support police chief Gen. Banurusman Astrosemitro's endorsement of re-employing caning as punishment for criminals.
I think certain criminals like thieves, robbers, rapists and juvenile delinquents deserve such a punishment.
This method has successfully reduced the crime rate in Singapore.
It would be a positive step for the House of Representatives and the authorities to join hands in formulating such a harsh punishment.
CINDY LAVINA
Bekasi, West Java
Promote Indonesia
From Tempo
Some very interesting advertisements which promote Indonesian flora and fauna have been broadcast by the private television station ANTeve.
With excellent musical backgrounds, pictures and editing techniques, the advertisements describe the beauty of Indonesia's natural resources.
Why don't we sell advertisements to foreign television stations to promote our country? Because several months ago, I talked to my friends about the absence of advertisements about Indonesia in foreign countries. The only promotion we have is the annual Tournament of Roses parade which is held annually in Pasadena, California.
Other developing countries actively promote their countries.
I hope that beautiful advertisements will be broadcast by television stations in the U.S., Australia, Europe and elsewhere in the near future to better inform the world about the beauty that is Indonesia.
SANTOSO SUGIANTO
Surabaya, East Java
Views on education
From Suara Karya
During the last decade a number of schools and educational institutions have been established. These include the Development Technical School, Taruna Nusantara Senior High School and Cilegon International School. These schools were established with the purpose of producing quality human resources, people to later take over modern technology.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Education and Culture is always conducting research and development and analyzing the educational results in order to ensure that our national education will conform to the messages of broader state policy.
Apart from that, both teachers and students need to be motivated to perform activities which are beneficial to society. That the teachers play a crucial role in enhancing the intellectual life of the young people can not be denied. And hence it is but natural that the rights and welfare of the teachers are given due attention. This will in turn spur them to dedicate themselves to the national task of promoting education to the extent that at the end of the day the youngsters will be equipped with the necessary skills and technical know-how to face the country's future with all its challenges.
SLAMET RIYADI
Cilacap, Central Java