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A letter to president SBY questioning the Indonesian mentality.

Dear Bapak President

Yang Terhormat Bapak President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,

It must be an unenviable job to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia. I mean who ever thanks the President for anything especially when matters seem to head in a different direction than the one intended?

Your team must be earnestly strategising the next Presidential elections for you. I hope my letter will reach you in time. As always, you have to refute the smear campaigns and face all that mud slinging, especially when it is done in a democratic environment like Indonesia.

You would be ill advised if you use the same manifesto that led you to your first victory. Avoid blaming it on the Economy like Mr. Clinton did because that would incriminate your establishment. You have to use a different strategy.

How about using this slogan instead?

It’s the mentality, stupid.

Also, avoid mentioning the state ideology Pancasila because that too could do some damage and be to your disadvantage.

You could take heed from George Aiken, who said:

If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other causes for prejudice by noon.

See Bapak President, it is a common human trait to find other causes even though you would graciously give your opponents a handicap in the run up.

Accuse your opponents as Aburizal Bakrie wannabe’s, terrorist sympathisers, bigots, religious hypocrites, political rogues, liars and maligners all - that it is their mentality that impedes nation building and prosperity in Indonesia. That it is their diabolical mentality that has repeatedly wrought unspeakable tribulations upon the rakyat.

That it is not your previous appointment as President that caused earthquakes, tsunami, mudflows, floods, landslides and the volcanoes to erupt. On the contrary it was their stupid collective mentality that caused nature to belch. I am sure that Mr. Gore will gladly support you and declare that it was all the hot air from your opponents that is the cause of Indonesian climate change and calamities.

Should you find this suggestion interesting and of any use in your forthcoming campaign, please direct a few of your campaign staff to register at Indonesia Matters. You see, over at Indonesia Matters, there is a cool collection of mentality missiles that your campaign strategists could use.

I quote a few examples of mentality that can be found at IM.

Comment by Andrew: … widespread mentality in Indonesia – a “mumpung” mentality
Comment by oaklandgirl: … of the 3rd world mentality of religion.
Comment by Hairays: … like the mob mentality…uncivilised, ready to …
Comment by zalech: … in the stone age mentality and barbaric culture of …
Comment by Raden: … this is Indonesian mentality.
Comment by Czeslaw: … his paranoid hate mentality.
Comment by buruh migran: … Look out the mentality of these men..
Comment by luphIndo: … by Arabs- mentality.
Comment by Andrew: … else” mentality. Blaming others.
Comment by Abdul Khalid al Jumhuri: … is the oppressive mentality
Comment by Dimp: … self esteem+mob mentality = tendency for violence. …
Comment by Bas: … in the Indonesian mentality to kill opposants.
Comment by Dimp: … have mob mentality.
Comment by Parvita: … do not have the mentality to be a scientist, a thinker,
Comment by Tomaculum: … by the corrupt mentality of many Indonesian.
Comment by Niamh Piperman: … a colonialist mentality.
Comment by El Gran Combo Puertorico: … holier-than-thou mentality
Comment by Cukurungan: … their 7th century mentality and laziness
Comment by Robert: … know where the mob mentality comes from in Indonesia
Comment by Dragonwall: … display the low mentality
Comment by Bas: … that dictatorial mentality.
Comment by Colson: … lack of democratic mentality and attitude
Comment by Shiva: … It is this type of mentality and deciet
Comment by Ross: … to the ugly mentality of such Islamists.
Comment by Sylvester: … the indon worker mentality. Many of them are lazy.
Comment by Jayabaya: … such as corruption mentality
Comment by Odinius: … or intolerant mentality
Comment by Peter: … is the classic mob mentality of many Indonesians
Comment by ausdag: … the narrow-minded mentality
Comment by Foundation One: … “in-group mentality”
Comment by Raden: … rampant corruption mentality
Comment by Anita McKay: … the laid-back mentality
Comment by perseus: … rip-off mentality

Bapak President, just in case you may need a few more -

- begging mentality
- “fixing” things mentality
- King and commoner mentality
- Barbaric mentality
- Mediocre mentality

While the campaign is in your favour, tell them even though America is regarded as the most powerful nation, America too faces a mentality problem. Tell them what George Santayana said but with your astute leadership, Indonesia will not become mentality-enfeebled and for some other George to say the same thing about Indonesia.

America is a young country with an old mentality

Bapak President, you would of course know that when it comes to choosing a winner, it is all in the mind simply because the mind so chooses to believe only in what it chooses to believe in. Twits being the only exception.

Implore the rakyat not to be twits like your opponents. Twirl the rakyat’s minds around your fingers about the disgraceful, degrading and disastrous mentality of your opponents. And most importantly, ensure that you make the rakyat’s minds choose what you believe in.

Once again, Mr. President, you need a clear, cogent and strong strategy to win. It must be one that resonates from Aceh to Zbolo (don’t ask me where it is).

I wish you success.

iamisaid

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