ONLY ONE THING IS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDONESIA
WHOEVER THE PERSON, REGARDLESS OF POSITION
It’s Useless to Be President, General, or a Figure if You Have a Cowardly Mentality
In modern politics, positions often become a form of honor without courage.
Some wear presidential suits,
some wear general’s badges,
some are hailed as national figures.
But when the world witnesses the suffering of Palestinian civilians under Israeli rule, most of the world’s elite suddenly fall silent.
They suddenly become very polite diplomats,
very cautious,
very afraid.
Afraid of losing economic aid.
Afraid of losing investment.
Fear of being rebuked by major world powers like the United States.
Yet, throughout history, great nations have never been born from leaders who feared the pressure of global power.
Great nations are born from leaders who dared to say:
“Justice must not be subject to force.”
Ironically, the world today is filled with leaders who are more concerned with maintaining their seats of power than upholding human dignity.
They talk about democracy.
They talk about human rights.
They talk about peace.
But when bombs fall on civilian settlements, when children become victims of war, those principles suddenly become flexible.
This is the moral tragedy of the modern age, almost all of it—international double standards.
If a small country commits violence, the world immediately reacts strongly.
But if the perpetrator is an ally of a major power, the world suddenly becomes very patient and understanding.
A nation like Indonesia should have the moral courage to speak out more forcefully. Since the time of Sukarno, Indonesia has been known as a country that stood at the forefront of the fight against colonialism and imperialism.
But the question today is simple:
Is that spirit still alive?
Or are we simply repeating the speeches of history, remaining silent when injustice occurs before our eyes?
Because in the end, history will not ask,
how long was someone president?
how many stars did a general have?
or how influential was a figure?
History will only ask one thing:
When injustice occurs, do you have the courage to fight it—or choose to be a comfortable spectator?
If you lack that courage, then it’s true:
It’s useless to be president.
It’s useless to be a general.
It’s useless to be a figure.
Because office without courage is just an empty political luxury.
by: Benz Jono Hartono
Mass Media Practitioner
Vice Director of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) PWI Center
Executive Director of the HIAWATHA Institute in Jakarta
