‘I’m proud that I can forgive those who’ve treated me badly’

Following her rather abrupt departure from heading the news division at a major TV station,Rosiana Silalahi has made the transition to her own talk show, Rossi. She has already chewed the fat with an almost tearful Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and former vice president Jusuf Kalla, among others, but still has a dream guest list. It includes Aung San Suu Kyi (“so strong, she put her country before her family, and I want to know why”), Nelson Mandela (“his forgiveness of others is a great example”) and, naturally, talk-show queen Oprah Winfrey (“she was abused as a child, but she’s shown what matters is not how bad the experience was, but how you deal with it”). She is dismayed at how some journalists fail to do their homework on a subject and rely instead on pat sound bites, citing the Bank Century case as one example. “As journalists, we have to get all the facts. If we lack the background, or don’t want to brush up on it, then it’s difficult. But we do damage by riling up the public over something they may not really understand.”

My mood right now ...

Relaxed.

Best moment in my personal life ...

When I got married.

And professional ...

When I made a good impact on society. For example, a few years ago we did a story about bullying in schools, and after the broadcast there were improvements. I want to be a voice for the voiceless.

My best trait ...

I’m fair. I treat people fairly because I want people to treat me fairly.

And worst ...

I’m impatient; I don’t like stupidity or indecisiveness. By stupidity, I mean people who are lazy, not those who are incapable or lack knowledge. People who don’t want to make the most of what they have. By indecisiveness, it’s those who say, “Uh, if we do that, then that may happen.” I’m a person who believes that if we have to make a decision now, then do it, and deal with whether it was a good decision or not later.

When I face people like that, I become very bitchy. And very intimidating.

The height of evil ...

Abuse of kids, pedophilia. It always makes me cry.

I would never ...

Cheat. I would never accept money if I hadn’t earned it. I can’t take bribes, it would cheapen me. I want to work for my pay.

My guilty pleasure ...

Smoking! I wish I could stop; every time I smoke, I think, “I really have to quit.”

My worst nightmare ...

Going on a long trip with someone with smelly armpits.

I wish I could ...

Sing like Barbra Streisand.

I’m proudest of ...

When I help somebody with something that I don’t have. And forgiving people who’ve treated me badly. I’m forgiving, and I want to move to another level because it marks a personal achievement. There’s no need for hatred, it’s a waste of time.

And also with my mother. When I started in journalism, it was a first for my family. Here I was, the youngest daughter, and I was doing something so different, with the crazy working hours. My mother said, “Why can’t you just do work like everybody else?” Now, 15 years later, she’s very proud of what I do, and I’m proud of that.

I’m bored by ...

Long and winding lectures by indecisive bosses.

My biggest mistake ...

It’s a personal one, a relationship. I always say to myself, don’t do that again.

My great escape ...

Bali! It feels like I’m not in Indonesia. It’s like my second home. Everything is a release.

I laugh at ...

Mr. Bean!

I’m embarrassed by ...

Fashion mistakes, like showing up overdressed at an event.

I can never understand ...

How some people are so hypocritical.

My best lesson from life ...

When we used to ask my late father about a new word or the meaning of something, he wouldn’t answer but tell us to look it up in the dictionary. It was a small thing but I know now it was the best thing. I learned we have to make an effort, do our best. So I wasn’t spoiled. You have to work hard; you can’t expect somebody to do it for you.

My rebellious side ...

As a creative person you don’t want to stay in a comfort zone. For me, that means shaking things up to make things better. If we stay in the comfort zone, then life is dull. Life is beautiful, life is about experiences and learning from our mistakes.

I lie when ...

In high school, I used to want to go out partying, but my mother would say girls shouldn’t go out at night. So I’d wait until everybody was asleep, then I’d sneak out over the gate. Now I look at that gate and think, that’s pretty high – I did well to get over it.

My favorite gadget ...

My BlackBerry – they just drive us in Jakarta. When the battery’s low or there’s no coverage, it’s the end of the world. That’s bad.

My dream of a better world is ...

No poverty, no hunger, and all kids are born into the world happy and raised properly.

My life motto ...

Work with passion, be committed and focused.

+ Bruce Emond

Illustration by Martin Dima

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