Proposal of Essential Image

Een maand werken voor 1,3 iced lattes per dag
* Nog even voor wie wil weten hoe het is om in een islamitisch land naar Sex and the City the Movie te gaan: de censoren leken netjes te hebben geknipt - als er al blootscènes misten, hebben we dat niet gemerkt. Zinnen als ‘the guy had funky tasting spunk‘ kunnen hier ook gewoon. Enige verschil: de zaal lag elke keer in een deuk als er zoenende mannen in beeld waren.

Being a country with the biggest Moslem's population, is quite an image. But somehow it’s become a sort of responsibility. Many with concerns would do their best to save the nation’s integrity and moral standard. Eyes of the nation are on the movie industry, although the days of sensual, erotic, and bed-sizzling Indonesian movies that appeared in the late 80s and early 90s are over. Apparently, censoring movies, banning, even street demonstrating by certain religion or student association movement are all done in several cases. One would said it's annoying and wasting time. Changing the channel, or just get the next show will be the suggestion to mind. Let me quote Indonesian Dream's thought of movie banning case as an extra insight.

"I also find it very funny with the fact that overseas erotic movies can freely enter the mainstream media of Indonesia with ease, but a copy version with local taste is treated with fury. Doesn’t it defeat the purpose?"

Being said that Indonesian youths are already morally corrupted in every way, is such a moral tragedy. I am not a moralist, I think. Yet I have no objection to the idea of keeping moral standard, to save the integrity and moral of young Indonesians. Someone should do this. We are not talking about the older generation integrity and moral here anyway. Unfortunately I do not see this effort done essentially, structurally, and continuously. Having the censorship institution doing their job is indeed not enough. Clear guidance (rules) on public performances is important, for the audience and the entertainment workers itself. But obviously age restriction is not enough believed to protect the Nation’s youth. Or is it being common that people couldn’t judge things as it should be and react maturely? What so funny is that many who criticize did not watching the controversial movie yet. Silly but true.

I don’t know why not village elders or the religious leaders taking control of their congregation. Those could teach them for God’s sake, right? And moreover making sure if they are understood and passing the normal-behaviour-tendency-of reactions-test (is there any such things?). Yes, moral and integrity are values come from within. Ironically people are proud to show off values they believe rather than working their faith personally. It is more important to have an image, than to hold a real value. If it is just my naïve thought.