Forum : Exodus by motorcycle

The Jakarta Post   |  Sat, 10/04/2008 8:40 AM  |  Reader's Forum

Exodus by motorcycle -- Sept. 27, p. 1

Due to the high motorcycle traffic during this year’s exodus, there should be special route for them to minimize traffic accidents by car, especially on the main road. Besides this, arrange a special law concerning this annual trip.
FAIZIN
Jakarta


Porn bill and legal certainty -- Sept. 25, p. 7

Sullivan’s letter is well constructed and moves the focus of the porn bill away from the emotional debate over whether sex is healthy or otherwise, to what is legally determinable.

Unfortunately, the record of Indonesian prosecutors and judiciary has been so abysmal that nobody could expect any fairness in the execution of any law framed around such vague aims open to diverse interpretations.
T. COTTON
Pattaya, Thailand


The pornography bill can’t be passed because it’s unclear about what porn is. How can you judge someone with such a law. If you want to go out with your wife, how do you know that she has to wear to be on the safe side? Do you make her wear a burqa?
JON
Jakarta


Think twice -- Sept. 22, p. 6

Why don’t we compare Indonesia to other Islamic countries, instead of the UK? Because, Indonesia is not an Islamic country, but a country whose inhabitants are mostly of the Islamic faith.

And on top of that, this majority does not spread evenly over the territory of Indonesia. So for example in Bali, Islam is a minority religion.

Now why should Indonesians want to dissolve Indonesia, when even Europe has concluded that in unity they would be stronger than as individual countries? So let us not encourage the urge to split up Indonesia by introducing a law which upsets minorities.

Remember to respect, and you will be respected. Minorities should respect the Islamic majority by not unnecessarily hurting Islamic sensitivities. However, imposing Islamic values on minorities by introducing this “porn law” through sheer weight of numbers, will not generate respect among the minorities, but only fuel the wish to rebel against Indonesia.

I truly hope the Islamic majority has the wisdom not to abuse their position of majority for the good future of Indonesia, which after all remains a vision of genius from the founding fathers, today being copied by the European Union. In this respect, Indonesia is far ahead of the EU. Let’s hope we continue to stay like this in the future.
A. R. TAURAN
Jakarta


I have seen the debate about this porn bill on Indonesian private television. Before watching the debate, I disagreed with the bill.

But, now I completely agree with the porn bill, especially because the porn bill draft was made after comparisons with porn bills in other countries (not only Islamic countries, but the United States too). The draft respects the culture of each province. Why must we be afraid of the government passing this bill? Let it work first, and then we’ll see whether the bill needs to continue or not? We never know something perfectly unless we have experience with it.
IRA MIRAWATI
Jakarta


Domestic heroes --Sept. 18, p. 1

Reading this article, I was shocked at this statement: “‘We have a house, but it’s only for us, the expatriates,’ the director told my friend during an interview at their Jakarta office. ‘Well, there is an empty room near the garage. It’s for the maid or the driver, but you can take it if you want,’”

So us pribumi (locals) are valued less than expatriates. What is next, separate buses, no colored folk in restaurant, only expatriate serving stores? Racism is apparently not dead which makes me sad. Even for a good cause such as HIV/AIDS initiative in Papua.

Hey I’m all for treating your housemaids, drivers and household employees with a modicum of respect. Their job is hard, long and get little pay in other households. They deserve your respect and should be treated with such.

I find it amusing that you would get drivers and maids were treated the same as an office manager for that story.

I feel bad for your friend that he would accept this blatant racism.

In the expatriates own country, a household helper is considered a luxury most of these expatriates would not be able to afford unless they won the lottery. I wish they would remember that these people are humans as well.
DAVID K.
Jakarta


I would like to comment on the comment and not on the article. Please open your mind and don’t judge all expatriates nor people from a statement or an act done by an individual who we don’t know his/her origin, beliefs or manners. I’m an expatriate here and do all the homework from cleaning to washing the dishes by myself because that was how I was raised (clothes I send to laundry).
SAM
Jakarta


Article published twice

The article “Building solid bones” on page 17 of Sunday, Sept. 28, is exactly the same as The Jakarta Post article on page 19, Friday, Sept. 19. What’s the reason for publishing the same article over and over?
ADRIANUS MARULITUA
Yogyakarta

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