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View all search resultsPresident SBY, in those weeks after inauguration, I'm guessing you're busy clearing up after any lingering celebrations and starting to whip up the new Cabinet before the grand five-year clock goes into full tick-tock mode
resident SBY, in those weeks after inauguration, I'm guessing you're busy clearing up after any lingering celebrations and starting to whip up the new Cabinet before the grand five-year clock goes into full tick-tock mode. Certainly, there have been a million messages demanding your immediate attention, so this note may never actually reach you. But I'm a concerned citizen who voted for you this year and, as your inaugural speech encouraged, don't want to be a part of the silent majority. So I'll give it my best shot.
What a difference five years makes, Pak? Five years ago, I didn't think you'd get us here by now, which partly explains why I didn't vote for you then. Nothing too personal, but coming from a generation who grew up knowing only one president, witnessing his downfall and the messy aftermath, I was uneasy with your strong New Order military background. But it's how you picked your ministers and aides, mostly of fresh blood and professionals, which first won me over. Then the KPK with its inspiring, gung-ho kicks.
I saw things you didn't pull off, and things I'm worried you're veering into lately. And, purely for the sake of our dear nation marching forward, I've chosen the ultimate subject to elaborate on: Democracy.
My simple understanding is that democracy is a two-way bridge between different opinions, varied beliefs, and conflicting interests, so that everyone can peacefully coexist on a common ground. But what's been sprouting fervently suggests that our democracy is becoming some one-way toll road for the majority, or the strongest, or the ones with loudest speakers, or all of the above.
I understand that reformasi is barely a decade old and most of us, as can only the Manadonese aptly put it, are still being mangkage. The word describes someone so swept up by their new-found wealth or fame that they act unwisely, mostly aimed at obtaining shallow symbols, often delivered in the tackiest manner. And we're mangkage on democracy.
Like decentralization, nobly meant to empower regions to utilize local resources to benefit its people, it has often been maneuvered into regional bylaws that only serve some of its people, albeit a majority, without creating breathing room for the rest.
I have cherry-picked the most mind-boggling from many examples; one province ordering civil servants to dress according to a certain religious code; a mayor declaring his city halal and banishing pig slaughterhouses; and the outgoing legislature of another province passing an archaic, inhumane stoning law.
On a national level, the pornography law, while it remains vague on the exact steps to protect children, so today's children can simultaneously finish quizzes and transfer smutty files via PDAs while sitting pretty in class, has managed to alienate enough fellow countrymen whose centuries-old rituals, art forms and costumes could suddenly be deemed unlawful.
Certainly, there are many roads to travel to get there; one of them is creating a symbol of unity we all can identify with. You may even start one, one of these days when your second term's official pictures are inevitably snapped. Preserve the modern, engaging, yet unpretentious air you and family projected five years ago. We all want to promote Indonesia, but lose those batik uniforms I've started noticing on your family lately.
It promotes only one heritage of our rich country, and it somehow creepily harks back to the days of a certain past leader who employed the same imagery to showcase an enforced ruling dynasty. We have tenun ikat, songket, and to honor your daughter-in-law, ulos. Unity in Diversity (Bhinneka Tunggal Ika).
Lynda Ibrahim
Jakarta
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