R

esponding to the controversy over whether Indonesia should ban alcoholic drinks, I don'€™t think there is an '€œ-ization'€ going on anywhere at the moment. The only thing going on is that people are getting more paranoid and believe that everyone different from themselves are after them.

The main fears listed:

Alcohol, most western countries have more restrictive alcohol policies compared to Indonesia: harsh punishments for drunk driving, heavy licensing for sales and high taxes.

Gambling, very few countries allow unrestricted gambling. If allowed, it is heavily regulated and highly taxed.

Pornography, there has been a wave of legislation on censorship and in many cases bans on pornography. In most less-religious countries, this drive is made by a growing feminist movement with increased political power.

Prostitution, many western countries even ban the practice of prostitution. Offenders face harsh punishments and humiliation.

Extra-marital sex, in other societies statutory rape legislation more or less outlaws sex before 16 years of age.

Comprehensive legislation against rape and sexual harassment makes the '€œone-night-stand'€ you see in movies a very risky business. Very strict regulations on STDs with mandatory disclosure of your partners make '€œsecret affairs'€ very difficult.

Nudism, you may not be naked in most public spaces in the West. There are specially assigned private properties for that. Even a man with a bare chest is frowned upon.

Marriage, even if there is a relaxed view on marriage from a religious perspective, the laws around responsibility for children, even those resulting from casual sex, are far more comprehensive than in Indonesia. You don'€™t get away with what you actually can in Indonesia.

 The drunk foreigners on drugs with a prostitute on their arms are something rare and not something accepted in their home country.  

OB
JAKARTA