http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060310.D02&irec=2
The Problem with Indonesia Indonesia is blessed in so many ways. It has vast energy reserves: coal, gas, thermal, solar and oil. It has huge mineral deposits and a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity in its forests. It has a mostly literate population, beautiful topography and highly fertile land. Why then is it trailing in the development stakes? Why is poverty still widespread? The answer lies in the Indonesian psyche. Indonesian society is highly ritualized and has been so for hundreds of years. So ritualized was the relationship between commoners and the nobility in feudalistic Central Java, for instance, a special language evolved for communication between the two. Today, that same ritualism can be seen both in religion and in the status conferred on and deference shown to government officials. That ritualism retards has been evident in many societies around the world. Ritualized religion led to widespread persecution in the middle ages in Europe and it was politico-ideological ritualism, overlaying the rituals of nationalism, that led to Europe's wanton war and destruction in the mid-twentieth century. It was institutionalized ritualism that led to Japan's aggression in Asia in the mid-twentieth century too. Invariably, where there is conflict there is ritualism at work. The danger of ritualism is that it substitutes for and ousts compassion. This is so evident in Indonesia. It can be seen in the way the poor are turfed off their land to make way for lucrative golf courses and real estate, the way the environment is being degraded, the way the innocent are jailed and the guilty walk free. It is manifest, for example, by the beggars in the streets, the growing numbers of street children and the numerous unnecessary deaths caused by inadequate health care. Most of these social ailments can be attributed to corruption and corruption is a direct product of failing compassion. Indonesia has made a great stride in adopting democracy, but there is the danger that that too could become ritualized. Statutes and public bodies too, that advance human rights, could degenerate into mere ritual with the spirit of the legislation and the essential purpose lost. Indonesia then, could not be better endowed, except in one respect: Compassion must replace much of the ritual. This does not mean abandoning religion; but it does mean going to the crux and the essence where compassion lies. Then and only then can a massive transformation for the better take place and Indonesia's true potential be realized. FRANK RICHARDSON Norwich, UK ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/aYWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Milis Wanita Muslimah Membangun citra wanita muslimah dalam diri, keluarga, maupun masyarakat. Situs Web: http://www.wanita-muslimah.com ARSIP DISKUSI : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/messages Kirim Posting mailto:wanita-muslimah@yahoogroups.com Berhenti mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Milis Keluarga Sejahtera mailto:keluarga-sejahtera@yahoogroups.com Milis Anak Muda Islam mailto:majelismuda@yahoogroups.com This mailing list has a special spell casted to reject any attachment .... Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wanita-muslimah/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
