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ave you ever committed one big stupid mistake in your life that turns your life 180 degrees overnight? Have you ever wished you could turn back the hands of time to avoid such a foolish, reckless mistake? Well, I am certain most of you will say, “Yeah … I have.”  

But I’m sure whatever you remember is not as horrendous as what film producer Afriyani Susanti did. The public has condemned her with disdain, scorn and curses. The day after the horrific fatal accident on Jan. 22 at Tugu Tani in Central Jakarta, she became public enemy number one.

Drunk and high, she drove her Xenia car and tragically claimed nine innocent lives, severely injuring three others. Her car smashed into twelve pedestrians as she could not control her speeding vehicle in such a state.

Now, she is facing murder charges after police had already charged her under the Traffic Law for driving under the influence of narcotics and without a driver’s license. It was an accident, and I believe taking nine innocent lives was not even in her wildest imagination. Her most fatal error was driving the car while she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs, which she could have avoided if only she had used her common sense.

It was her choice in the first place to join the party, drink the alcohol, swallow the drugs, and get into the driver’s seat. She made all those choices, meaning she was fully responsible for her actions, albeit that it was a tragic accident. I feel sorry for her but I feel most sorry for the victims and their families.

The lesson that must be learned from this incident is, no matter what your lifestyle choices might be, you have to ensure that your actions do not harm others. I don’t have any objection to people enjoying parties, having a little drink or taking a small amount of drugs, as long as they don’t adversely affect other people … as long as they maintain their decency in public.

It’s their lives and we have no control over their sense of morality. We know such lifestyles will only damage their lives, and over time they will come to their senses if they are smart enough. Reserve those lifestyles for yourselves, and if you are high and drunk, please have the common sense to hail a cab to take you home, instead of driving under such wretched circumstances.

Drinking and taking drugs is stupid enough. But driving under the influence of those dangerous substances is just crazy and totally irresponsible. Don’t ever put others in grave danger because of your mischief. It was heartbreaking to see the families of the victims wailing and mourning for their lost loved ones.

Their beloved have been snatched away in such a cruel way by a reckless and irresponsible driver. It’s also heartbreaking to see Afriyani’s mother in tears, begging the victims’ families for forgiveness for her daughter last night on TV One. Not to mention the shame she must bear in witnessing the public mock and scorn her daughter.

Alcohol and drugs kill!!! They destroy lives! Still, no one can turn back time. No matter how much Afriyani wanted to rewind the clock, she would fail.

From now on, she has to live with the fact that she killed nine people. She has to live with the consequences of her choices. For her, it is her single biggest mistake that has ruined not only other people’s lives but also her own.

Herlina

Jakarta