IT is good to see young faces running for presidential race. Yes, those dreary old countenances bring bad mood to our senses, presenting the pictures of long-rooted cheap politicking, elderly arrogance, and well-packaged pilfering. These images are shifting with scruffily-dressed old people in slum neighborhood, suburbs and marginalized kampongs.
Young faces bring abundance of energy, strong determination, change and idealism. In any field of competition, these facets of youth outweigh inexperience, lack of wisdom and unripe composure.
Soekarno and his ‘pergerakan’ [freedom fighter] fellows were just at 20s when they started galvanizing this nation’s fervor for independence. At their 30s through 40s, they had turned to become leaders of the nation, run the fledging state and set unprecedented plan of nation and character building.
They paved their way to high positions until, in time, they turned dull and lumbering. Soekarno dissolved a big parliamentary proceeding called Majelis Konstituante as he feared it would result in west-oriented constitution. The last chapter of his rule saw him leading the country with iron fist.
But Soekarno, Syahrir, Mohammad Natsir, Mohammad Yamin, ascended to high socio-political post for their quality. Since at their teen, they had pioneered to shape the future of the country; squeezed their brains to find ways out of misery; plunged themselves into struggle for independence.
So their ascension to power was politically and morally acceptable. And their positions were natural reward for their personal quality.
Later, there was a time when one rose to power by toppling those on it. This needs gut, muscle and relentless pressure. Then they cling to power without intelligence and leadership quality. Premans and frustrated military generals might have the potentials to succeed in such plotting.
But those who don’t have such weapon can use the pretext of youth to hunt for power. Our community is well-known for being easily convinced that young means excellence, clean, fresh and ‘forward looking’.
And our gossip-possessed society is easily to like whoever often appears on TV. Be a host of comedy show then get ministers, governors, House chairman, party leaders into your show, there you are – an important man.
What makes a big difference is that our founding fathers chose the path of ‘pergerakan’ as a call, line of duty, and the reason they were there for. It’s a clear and persistent path; a path that showed their character and integrity.
Now how to describe our comedians, corny artists who run for governor or bupati election? Politics is surely not their genuine call and it only comes to their mind after they know they are well-known enough to contend the election. Coincidentally, the long-established politicians are constantly encroached by corruption and inability to adjust themselves to the fast-changing environment.
Forerunners like Rano Karno and Dede Jusuf made success stories for other actresses. Rano became deputy regent of Tangerang and Dede Jusuf rose to vice governor chair of West Java. Then Didin Bagito put himself forward in bupati election of Serang regency, though he failed. Now MC Helmy Yahya is running for South Sumatra governor election.
One of the most striking figures of this trend is that all the celebrities-turned politicians seek for second position. They mean to be just attached to the real contenders. They realize from the very beginning that their existence in politics is complementary, so be it. They bring no ideas, fresh agenda and clear visions.
It just happened that stage of Indonesia politics and entertainment are no big difference. Both present low-class entertainments, corny shows, poured with bad taste jokes.
But while the celebrities are well-known, who the hell are Rizal Malarangeng, Soetrisno Bahir and other well-furnished faces of young men contending the upcoming presidential election? People only know Rizal as a host of the stupid talk show ‘Save Our Nation’ and Soetrisno Bahir as the chairman of National Awakening Party [PAN]. And people know them only after their faces were put in large billboard in public places.
But that’s the way it is. Indonesian people see and treat political stage as kitchen entertainment. It’s not about nation and character building, cultural identity and prosperity.
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