Why Hypocrisy and Leniency Suck (More than Corruption Does)
Yesterday (Dec 9, 2009) was international anti-corruption day. Demonstrations against corruption (and corruptors) ran rampant almost in any city and little town on the Indonesian archipelago. The corruption eradication undertaking has of course been becoming the nation's huge concern particularly after the earth-shattering Century scandal involving the country's elites. Call me selfish, but I don't give the scandal damn. What they can always show to us -the citizens- is an endless supply of stomach-sickening scandals, dramatic scenes at trials, press releases full of denial and disclaimer, and piles of other dirty political maneuvers.
Basing my perception on what I've been reading and listening to, I am NOT sure this nation can make considerable changes towards being a more corruption-free nation. I don't care about how many millions demonstrators marching down on streets, yelling, screaming uproariously like they'd gone nuts (it's a public secret that we can pay people to be demonstrators). I don't care even they're going to be a million more commissions assigned to combat corruption just like what KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) does. I don't even care when those elites are trying so hard to convince us by swearing, confessing while weeping like a motherless and helpless lamb before judges at trials, I don't care how many Pansus (special committee) or teams are formed to investigate this disgraceful scandal, divulge that debasing libel.
But what makes me so sceptic, folks? As an opinionated blogger, I have got my own ground and analysis.
Hypocrisy
Call it double-standard, acute and chronic split personality disorder, or whatever you think suitable to describe people whose words are different from real action.
- We're way too good at making sweet-looking banners, spirit-burning slogans, inspiring mottos, majestic billboards printed with capital and bold letters just to show how foolish and ridiculous we really are because what we see in reality is NOT even close to that! How many times do we see a mass transportation stops around a spot where a DON'T STOP sign is spotted?
- We're too skillful at forming sophisticated committees and ear-pleasing abbreviations, giving soothing self-defense formal speeches adorned with makeup data, yet included scientifically and logically feeble justifications.
- We're far too excelled at criticizing our corrupt leaders and when we're in their position, we do the precisely similar misdeeds they previously did. Was it a sheer envy that pushed us to harshly criticize them?? Were our acid comments because they have what we don't have, can enjoy what we can't?
- We're far too unsurpassable at organizing agendas and compiling lists of plans but seem to lack execution. The access to our international airport got flooded right after the ministry of tourism launched "Visit Indonesian Year". A president stated he is against any form of mafia and corruption but what are we witnessing now? The culprits are let free abroad, the minor offenders are sent to jail and prosecuted like they did the worst crime ever. What's next?
Leniency
- A legal officer (I forgot if she was an attorney or judge) was sentenced 1 year imprisonment after being caught selling drugs which were assumed to be crime evidence. Whilst a driver was found to have one cocaine pill with him and it cost him his 5-year freedom. I'm not being hyperbole as I saw it on a TV news program. A judge was asked for explanation how this could happen. He innocently and shamelessly retorted, "She (the legalofficer) had formerly conducted her legal duty and been proven to be committed to her profession for more than ten years. What she did (seeling out the drugs) therefore was considered as a minor violation". He added, "It was because she had devoted herself to the country, which is why we sentenced her one year imprisonment only. Suppose a layman does the same (selling drugs), s/he will deserve a more severe penalty because s/he doesn't work for the country, which thus can be concluded that s/he doesn't do any good for this country." Does that judge really know what he just said? He just revealed how weak our judges' justice sense is. He smears charcoal on his own face and his corps.
- How many times do we see a lecturer/ teacher not reacting to cheating students? With nonchalant abandon, our lecturer/ teacher reads newspaper, leans on the chair he is sitting in, lights his cigarettes and blows the smoke to the air as though nothing was happening, or even worse, takes calls or browses through list of texts in his message inbox and exchanges texts with colleagues. What can we expect more from this kind of education? Letting our students cheat now is just a s hazardous as letting our public officials embezzle our tax money.
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