Indonesia is a beautiful archipelago country which is heading to its own destruction. There are so many unsolved problems, be it small or large scale. Everything from lack of clean water, up to mega corruption within all levels in the government; it is an everyday menu. Traffic jams in Jakarta, the so called capital which is caused mainly by overpopulation and very lack of discipline portrays the sad fact that this country is quite a dead end.
Here in the capital, beggars live underneath bridges, and controlled by a mafia who then give them children so that it attracts sympathy from passing cars. Children starting as young as 5 are already told to cup their face on the windows of stopping cars on the traffic light, and beg for money.
Outside the capital, and Java, the development in other provinces and islands is stuck. This results in tremendous amount of people coming and stuff the capital. Most are looking for better living, which of course proven otherwise.
Many of my generation no longer care about how Indonesia will continue. The generation of my parent, is tired of hoping. All of Indonesians are tired, apathetic and doing our best to somehow fight to survive every single passing day.
Taxi drivers, bus drivers, children, beggars, students, low class, middle class, (not sure about upper class, they seem to be fine with their money); All are suffering from a bad government and system. With the addition of cultural and social tensions between ethnics, Indonesia is doomed from the dream of a fine country.
My mother always tell me that things in Indonesia is like a knotted ball of strings. It's almost impossible to loosen the ball, and every centimeter is connected to the next. Every time you try to fix a problem here, it leads to many other problems. An example is when you try to fix traffic jam by reducing newcomers to then reduce riders. They will accuse you for being discriminating. They will tell you that there is no money in other provinces, that is why they're here. So, now you are faced with the development of other provinces. And the final bang is that the government will not issue money for that. They will claim that they do, but what they really care is their own pockets.
Another example is if you try to reduce the whole population by introducing birth control methods. Say you are introducing the birth control pills. You can even make it free (ideally speaking). You will be faced with the problem of finding the necessary human resources that can tell many Indonesian women who are far from educated, on why and how they need to take these pills. It does not end there. The next challenge then, is how you can control these trusted people of yours to keep monitoring the spread of the pills efficiently.
The two examples may seem workable for you, however, this is Indonesia. Things are different here. But somehow, we live on. I do admit, it's quite remarkable.
My last point will be, how bad exactly do Indonesians want to help themselves? They complain, I complain, but what exactly real things that we can do ? If they want traffic jams to be reduced, then they need to start being discipline on roads. If we don't want dirty environment, then we need to stop being litter bugs. I can give many more things to do, but the idea here is that somebody, somewhere has to start doing something. Even when it looks very small. Remember the old Indonesian saying, "Sedikit demi sedikit, lama-lama menjadi gunung" (slowly, little by little you can make a mountain).
Picture from Arezeo
