I would like to comment on a letter titled "May expats be critical?" (The Jakarta Post, June 30) by James Taylor of Denpasar

Do you have the "right" to admonish someone who is doing something you disapprove of? What are "rights"? Are they only what those in power allow us to have? Rather that thinking in terms of "rights" in these situations should we be thinking in terms of what is a proper response to express disagreement within a cultural context?

I'll digress for a moment. I live in Indonesia (have done so now for 10 years during two periods) but am currently writing from US while visiting relatives. I remember a time here in the US back in the 1960s, in my home state of Virginia, when my parents would go to McDonald's or a similar fast-food place to buy our lunch to be eaten in the car on a Sunday drive to the countryside.

After the food was finished the bag of trash went out the car window onto the road. American's started getting more serious out "littering" once enforced laws came into place and various states had public awareness campaigns. Our public trash collection systems also improved.

Roadside litter decreased considerably during the 70s, 80s and 90s, but then started increasing again. Even during my recent visit I've commented to my daughter about the amount of trash I see along the roadside. Quite embarrassing.

I believe people, Indonesian or other, want to have a clean environment and will, given proper access to facilities, dispose of trash in a responsible manner. But the key is having proper facilities. Indonesia, as a country, has to spread it's government revenue across many sectors and perhaps the revenues are still being spent on things considered more important.

There is an expression that goes "People may not believe what you say, but they will generally believe what you do". Another way to encourage more responsible disposal of waste, in Indonesia or even your home country, is to lead by example.

Perhaps take an hour once a week to walk down that road in Bali and pick up trash yourself and collect it in a bag for disposal. Other people will see you doing it and perhaps that will motivate them to follow your example, or at least to think twice before throwing out their trash along the road.

Willingness to accept constructive criticism is important for personal and societal growth, however that might be measured. We should view those that critique (I use this word as the word "criticize" seems to immediately invoke aversion) us in a fair manner as a blessing.

Stephen

Jakarta

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