Archive for December 22nd, 2009
Why Obama skipping Jakarta might not be so bad
Image Source: javno.com
By Evan A. Laksmana and Hazelia Margaretha
They say Indonesia is the most important country that the United States knows very little about. Cynics recited this clich* when airing their disappointment as President Barack Obama went on his big Asia tour recently, skipping Jakarta.
After all, Obama supposedly has deep, long-standing ties with Indonesia, going way back to his childhood. In fact, “Barry” – as President Obama is popularly known by Indonesians – has become something of an icon in Indonesian politics in the past year.
As such, some have been tempted to argue that perhaps Indonesia’s role in the American grand strategy is not so pivotal after all. Upon a closer look, however, Obama skipping Indonesia was perhaps not such a bad thing for both countries. Read the rest of this entry »
Menghentikan Perbuatan Immoral Majority
Sumber Gambar: 3.bp.blogspot.com
Oleh Dr. Beni Bevly
Sangatlah miris menyaksikan kasus-kasus penyelesaian korupsi di Indonesia yang berkembang ke arah yang tidak menentu dan dinilai tidak adil oleh banyak kalangan masyarakat. Perkembangan kasus korupsi seperti ini muncul kepermukaan melalui penahanan pemimpin Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) Bibit Samad Rianto dan Chandra Hamzah, kemudian menjalar ke kasus Bank Century. Pekembangan yang lain adalah penyelesaian kasus Prita Mulyasari.
Hal istimewa apakah yang membuat kasus-kasus ini begitu banyak mendapat perhatian dan keterlibatan dari berbagai pihak, baik dalam dan luar negeri? Mengapa kasus seperti ini terus berkelanjutan walaupun sudah lebih dari 10 tahun reformasi digulirkan? Sebagai manusia yang anti korupsi, bagaimana kita bisa mengambil bagian dalam pemberantasannya? Read the rest of this entry »
Peran Penjelasan Tertulis dalam Berbisnis
Sumber Gambar: davidairey.com
Oleh Dr. Beni Bevly
Penerbangan antara San Francisco dan San Diego di Tanah Seberang beberapa hari lalu mengingatkan saya akan betapa pentingnya penjelasan tertulis – termasuk gambar di permukaan kertas dan media lainnya – dalam berbisnis dan bagaimana merumuskannya secara tepat. Di dalam pesawat Southwest yang terkenal berani menawarkan harga tiket rendah dan efesiensinya, saya membuka petujuk lembaran evakuasi jika terjadi kecelakaan. Hanya dengan kalimat yang sederhana dan bantuan gambar-gambar, penjelasan itu bisa saya pahami dengan mudah. Pada perinsipnya, manajemen Southwest ingin menyampaikan pesan bagaimana untuk menyelamatkan diri jika terjadi pendaratan medadak baik di darat maupun di perairan. Read the rest of this entry »
Minority rights, cladistics, and language watch
by Jennie S. Bev
One of the most common harassments experienced by a minority is verbal. Often it is so subtle that the targeted group doesn’t even realize. In Indonesia, it’s common that abusive and oppressive remarks are made by the media and even by academics. Stern language watch is key to uphold minority’s right to live in dignity and with peace of mind. Failure to address this issue is likely to prolong minority and human rights abuses.
All of us must work together to watch the use of language in media, by academics and among one another.
In recent the Bank Century and Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) scandals, for instance, some Chinese Indonesians have been the target of derogatory and abusive language. Read the rest of this entry »
