I

'€™d like to make it clear, right from the start, that I am not an Indonesian citizen and cannot vote in the upcoming election. It kills me, but I can'€™t. However, I do wish to speak for a moment on this contentious issue and share my two cents.

I love this country. It'€™s where I grew up and it'€™s where I choose to come home to. This has always been the case despite my moving around for my education to two different countries in four years. I love the food, the people, the culture, the weather and all those little quirks of being an Indonesian '€” such as wearing a jacket on a motorbike no matter how hot it is.

And since I love and care for this country, I shall be bold and openly declare what it is that I strongly think this country needs '€” confidence.

This country has a vibrant economy; beautiful breathtaking landscapes; lush fields; friendly people; good education; a good, firm foundation in a well-written Constitution; a long history and an ingrained appreciation for all of the above. Why isn'€™t it taking a greater stance on the world stage?

Perhaps we'€™re ashamed of certain skeletons in our closet. Perhaps we'€™re aware of our failings in very basic necessities in our country. Perhaps Indonesia just needs a new face '€” someone who can navigate the turbid waters of international relations and create a place for it for the future ages.

And now we'€™re quibbling about who this person should be. For me, there never was a choice at all. I wanted to choose the right man for the job and I found only one candidate.

Let'€™s take a look at Prabowo Subianto for a moment. What do we really know about him? His history? His promises '€” save those that are simply ridiculous? His core beliefs? His belief in the Indonesian people? Not much at all, really. The little he has divulged, he has altered liberally in the course of his campaigning.

Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo, however, promises more. He has a realistic vision. He has the courage and initiative to face the Indonesian people outside of rallies and to face the problems of the country head-on. He has the humility to present a realistic image of himself. Even if he fails, he can always fall back on his honor and virtue with grace. We need this man.

Confidence needs to be built from the ground up. It can'€™t simply be thrust upon people. We need to feel proud of our own country. Change needs to originate from the villages, from the poor and the minorities. It needs to start from there as a distant rumbling and grow louder.

To anyone who thinks Indonesia would be better off under the grip of the military or religious groups, I beseech you to take a look at our neighbors Thailand and Malaysia.

Indonesia should have the confidence to take a firm lead in ASEAN as a democratic country that respects its people and their heritage and looks to the future with hope.

However glorious the past may or may not have been, we cannot afford to get waylaid by relics on the roadside. The world will turn with or without Indonesia, but I want better for my home.

Kevin Steve Sathyanath
Purwakarta, West Java