First let me congratulate Barrack Obama for being elected as the 44th President of United States. I don’t think I need to repeat the story of his unique background, his experience living in Indonesia for 4 years and the multicultural backround has captivated interest from people not only in America, but the whole world, especially Indonesia and Kenya who shares historical tie with him.
It’s natural for Indonesian and Kenyan people at the moment to celebrate, it’s not every decade you could have president from a superpower have connection with country from 3rd country. His life is almost like novel, something you couldn’t see everyday. His childhood experience living in Indonesia, dealing with poverty everywhere made him grow into a sincere man. Many said he couldn’t help to feel emphaty to powerless, poor, people.
Having historical tie with Indonesia doesn’t automatically will make Indonesia put in higher priority in US foreign policy as it already is. Analysts say foreign policy is not shaped in basis of romanticism, I agree with this.
Let put aside the Obamania across our entire nation. Let’s remember we have election coming up. Candidates are beginning to appear in our tv commercials, putting banners everywhere, repeating their visions and misssions, repeating the same old stuff, as if we are not fed up already.
Yes We Can: Change We Need
Obama carry the slogan “Yes We Can” and “Change We Need”. I’m not american, and I’ve never lived in the continent before, but from my research, I found that the people also tired with conservatives and the elitist who control the states. This is especially true when we are referring US during Bush’s year in office. His policies were not popular, and I really found it strange how he actually was reelected in second term.
US election is historicaly important, it teaches the whole world beauty of pluralism, and the importance of change.
Revolution can abolish entire structure of nation in a minute, but changing culture is something else, it’s like defying the public secret, everyone knows it exist, but it’s intangible because it’s all about mindset. it’s challenge to change our way of life, and unfortunately for this javanese-dominated nation, feudalistic culture is the dominant factor. Some people really proud with the javanese heritage and their culture, loving the hiererchy, enjoy being praised by their subordinates, crazy about respect, etc. I’m javanese descent, so I know a bit about this.
I’m not really skeptical about democracy in Indonesia, but the biggest problem is that everyone talking about changing the nation, changing the culture, changing other people, the feodalism endless bla bla bla, it’s endless rhetoric question, but the funny thing is, they forget to change themselves. If you can not change from yourself, how can you change other? It’s important to change, start from ourself.
Indonesia: Feudalstic Culture
The government and the house of reprsentative unconsciously or consciously administer our country in this feudalistic atmoshpere. In many ways we the people, are powerless again the powerful government, we have no tool to control them except mass media, and the problem comes when they are producing counterproductive policies which against the people interest: the law that forbids interfaith marriage, the antipornographic law, etc.
Bhinneka Tunggal Ika? We are plural country, why we must be differentiated horizontally? Why intervene our religious life by only recognizing five religions?
Unfortunately, protest about these topic is almost a taboo, a sacred area which is above law. I don’t think there will be change unless we have another young, fresh candidate like Obama in Indonesia. But who wants to vy the hotseat? Chinese descent is not interested in politic, because they know they are marginalized community. My relatives discourage me to be involved in politic, I agree with them, I think it’s better to keep our hand clean. We still have stigma of discrimination in public office, it won’t be change for long time.
But again, it’s system. We can’t say he is wrong, I’m wrong or you wrong. The Indonesia we know is production of Soeharto’s javanese king idiosyncratic style. It’s not wise to blame the government or the community since they couldnt change what have happened.
My opinion might change if there is a chinese/arabic/european/[insert non-javanese ethnic tribe here] Indonesian vying to become president, though I don’t think these minorities have interest to be involved in politic. I don’t want to be called racist, I’m javanese descent as well, I’m talking my own kin, but its the truth. Domination of certain ethnic in a country is not creating healthy atmoshpere.
Btw Indonesia is much better despite the unconscious disciminatory system, Malaysia has worse condition from what I heard. People there are categorized horizontally even worse than here, so we cant lose hope yet.
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi
Astonishingly refreshing analysis.
From what I know as an involved outsider, I guess you may have hit the nail on the head. Several nails, as a matter of fact. At least my impression also is that – generally speaking- Indonesian society is pretty hierarchical, not inviting constructive criticism bottom-up. Insufficient social mobility, waste of talent and too much conservative vested interests and remnants of a feudal and/or colonial social system.
I guess you’re right Indonesia could do with a modern, energizing, inspiring statesman, with the swing in his performance like Mick Jagger at the peak of his career. Europe could do with such a guy/lady as well by the way. Actually we all urgently need a numerous bunch of young, sophisticated, tolerant and broadminded people, to make such a change possible. But it need not be an Obama – remember that Bill Clinton – the “black” President – did prepare the ground.
If your analysis is right and the prerequisite of a solution is a rainbow coalition of minorities that now stay outside Indonesian politics, people like you should act. It may take years to create such a coalition ( it took eight years before Obama could get rid of the Bushite clan with the help of Afro American, Hispanics, women and youngsters), but if it doesn’t start now Indonesia will not have improved by the time the young generation will consist mainly of pensioners.
@colson
Many young people actually stay out from the politic not because they really want it, it’s actually form of desperation because it costs too much to be involved in politic.
When you enter a political party, you must pay huge amount of money, which is inaffordable unless you got thick cash. At least that what I percept over this years. To join political party means you must know the members, preparing to give money under the carpet, etc etc.
In common, we think political life in this country is too dirty already, and we can’t possibly enter this realm without staining our hand first.
True Vin, politics is just too expensive. One way you can go about it I guess is just to keep expressing your opinion, and getting your voice heard. Educate the masses, get your name thrown around as a thoughtful and well rounded observer.. And maybe.. One day.. You never know Vin.
I’d like to congratulate him, and just wanna see what “the changes” that he’d like to do.
this is the proof that the world is ready for a change, including Indonesia.
never give up our hope.
There’s indeed still hope Calvin and yeah discrimination in Malaysia is undoubtedly worse.
Things I learned from this year’s American Presidential Elections which related to this particular post of yours are:
- We really need to find someone who WANTS and CAN bring Indonesia to better future. There are too many self-proclaimed candidates for next year presidential elections and most of them had been in Indonesian political arena for yours and given only minor contributions.
I believe reasonably free and fair elections is one of the features of democracy. Yes we can say that we have free elections. How about fairness? Fair here doesn’t merely mean the absence of vote rigging and falsification of elections’ results. It includes equal media coverage of political party and presidential candidates’ campaign and, MORE IMPORTANTLY, same opportunity to participate in elections, regardless of their religion and ethnicity. Obama had mentioned that he would make a government which includes capable officials from both parties, the best people in their department. In Indonesia, elected candidates sometimes just brought together with him people from same party (or coalition), ethnicity, religion.
- Be gentle. I was impressed by McCain’s concession speech. He encouraged his disappointed supporters to support Obama for the sake of American prosperity. In Indonesia, there is no such thing. Ex-presidents have never even attended independence day ceremony. Defeated candidates always argue that there is miscalculations and are very reluctant to support elected candidates.