SMS: The absence of domestic heroes

Tue, 10/07/2008 9:56 AM  |  Reader's Forum

Don't let yourselves to be the slaves of domestic workers. Learn to be self-reliant and do your work yourself. That way you will get some badly needed exercise.
VIVEK
Jakarta

Every time my maids go home for their annual leave we can never be sure whether they will really come back. Fortunately my wife has learned their habit and imposed rules for the mutual benefit of the maids and us.

Whenever I have the time, I teach them not only English, but about global warming. During this discussion I learned how poorly educated they were.

They simply were not able to finish their elementary or junior high school.
MOELJONO ADIKOESOEMO
Jakarta

When I am busy about my job, I have no time for my child. I can't cook every day, but I have someone to help me. So for me, that is very important.
DE KURNIA
Ciputat

They are really heroes. They lead me to have a good career, to bring up my children and make my family happy. Without them, life is stressful.
RENI HERAWATI
Yogyakarta

Most of the household in Jakarta simply do not function without them. In their absence people swarm hotels or take refuge out of Jakarta. Domestic helpers? No, they are domestic backbones.
KIKI
Jakarta

I'm a Filipino who has been living in Indonesia with my husband Ric and three children for 16 years now. How important are my helpers? Lis and Kamsia are very important because they make things much easier for my family. They are my "dependable angels". We are blessed and thankful to have them as our helpers.

We miss them a lot during the times that they are away. We do understand that they deserve this much needed rest to be with their loved ones to celebrate Idul Fitri. True enough our helpers are "heroes" in their own humble ways.
MARIA TERESA ANATALIO
Pelepah Elok, Kelapa Gading, Jakarta

Before the helpers go home what do they normally do? Sleep and eat on the bed, watching TV 24 hours a day. We only have maids and helpers in the house if extremely rich and lazy.
STEVE
Denpasar

It's not that we can't do our chores without domestic helpers, but with their help, we gain time because we can allocate our time to do something else instead of household chores.

Hence, for me, yes, they are important, and they are of mutual benefit to me.
CATHERINE TANOTO
Medan, North Sumatra

As a matter of fact, many people choose to become domestic workers because of the lack of job opportunity in our country. It is a pressure, not freedom..

I hope that our government helps these poor people by giving them a chance to find good life here, not bad work abroad. They're our brothers, family members and our neighbors. So we must thank our domestic workers.
KURNIA AZRA
UIN, Jakarta

I don't treat my helpers like dirt as written by Jack Spiegel on Sept. 17. In fact I never treat any of my helpers like N*****s. Is your wife an ex maid?
MADINA
Jakarta

My maids are my angels. Without them I cannot run my life normally. They were taking care of my two children when my wife and I went to work.

Since they left us to their hometown, I have to help my wife clean the house, wash and cook. Poor me.
DONNY
Jakarta

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