Here you will find articles that I've written and that have formerly appeared in the (now defunct) Indonesian Observer, The Jakarta Post, the Japanese Daily Mainichi Shimbun and the weekly news magazine Tempo English. Most are comments to various issues from politics, the economy, society to religion in Indonesia that encompass a period of over a decade that saw the toppling of an authoritarian regime and the mushrooming of shopping malls. There have been many changes to be sure, and lately the increasing preoccupation with religion together with the tensions and debates that never fail to dog this emotionally charged issue. However, despite the challenges of democracy and reforms, overall most things have remained the same - namely the complexity and nature of our problems and our quirkiness as Indonesians. I also welcome contributions from Avocado readers. - desi anwar
The 23rd of July is National Children’s Day in Indonesia. There are currently around 76 million children in the country and I feel sorry for every single one of them. And it’s not just because 50% of Indonesians live on less than $2 a day or over two million children under five are malnourished. It’s mainly because they really don’t deserve to have the kind of adults that are currently raising them and making decisions about their future, nor the sorry environment they have to grow up in.
The thing about children is that they are wonderful human beings. They are naturally honest, straightforward, fun loving and easy to please. They are unaffectedly compassionate and caring and largely not prone to prejudice or discrimination. They are extremely curious, open minded, tolerant and delight in new things. They suspend judgment, are quick to show appreciation, eager to learn and get upset if they feel they’re treated unfairly.
Left to their own devices, they are more likely to engage in participative and collaborative playing as opposed to plotting on how they could cheat one another or make each other’s lives miserable. There’s nothing more disturbing to a child than see another child cry or get upset. Empathy comes easily to them, as does a spontaneous desire to help.
