http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaileditorial.asp?fileid=20060714.F04&irec=3
When solidarity, sympathy become commodities Mohammad Yazid, Jakarta The calamities that continue to strike one after another across the country have led to an outpouring of sympathy and aid. Shell-shocked disaster victims often wait for people to come to their ill-fated area to express their condolences and support -- but not everyone has the time or the money to make such visits. Other unfortunates, to borrow a popular marketing term, "pick up the ball" by actively seeking out help -- either from the people on the roads or from the aid groups and government agencies that flock to the disaster area. These days, with our improved communications and distribution systems, one no longer needs to go to a disaster area to help out. There are many agencies that will handle cash and other donations. In the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh and Nias in 2004 or in the recent quake in Yogyakarta, several media publications opened bank accounts for the transfer of cash donations. There was the "Dompet Dhuafa " (Wallet for the Unfortunate) from the Republika daily and "RCTI Peduli" (RCTI Cares) campaigns. Even more proactively, people carrying cardboard boxes stood in the road and asked passing motorists and pedestrians for cash. However, this method, which often disrupts the flow of traffic, is risky -- to the health of the collectors -- and is also prone to abuse. Any activity aimed at providing help for one's countrymen is praiseworthy, especially if it is based on honest feelings of sincerity. Unfortunately, some people abuse the public's desire to give alms. Individually or in groups, they visit houses and ask for donations under a pretext -- that they are collecting funds for the construction of an orphanage, a mosque or other places of worship or social import. This abuse often puts Muslims in a dilemma. Take the case of orphans. Chapter 107 (al-Ma'un/Small Kindnesses) verses 1-3 in the Koran says "Have you seen him who denies the recompense? That is he who repulses the orphan (harshly). And urges not the feeding of the poor". Despite this, many people worry that the orphans they hear about -- if there really are orphans at all -- are being manipulated for the personal gain of their handlers. Suspicions also arise when those asking for donations act like beggars. If they seen unprofessional, or worse, are rude when asking for a donation, Muslims and non-Muslims alike are put in a quandary. Then there are the people on the roads collecting for mosques. Should they check first to see whether the person they are asking is of the same religion as theirs? Is this OK or will the image of Islam be tarnished? It's a good question. On the giving end, some donors are sincere when they give alms but others make use of this situation to pursue their own interests or those of their group. Sincerity is often difficult to prove because it is highly personal in nature in the sense that it is known only to the donors and God. It is interesting however, that people who give only small sums rarely write down their names in donation books, preferring anonymity with names like "God's servant." The big donors, however, prefer to use their names, even better if the name is engraved in some plaque on a building, or reported in the media. Speaking of publicity, it is also interesting that many Indonesians, who can pass by impoverished communities in their backyards without a second thought, will gladly give to a disaster hundreds of kilometers away, which is covered widely by the media. Why does this outpouring of sympathy and aid only take place when there is a major disaster? After all, the country is still suffering from protracted economic problems -- and poverty, malnutrition, long-term unemployment and a lack of opportunity -- are "disasters" people are faced with every day. Despite this, it is an open secret that certain businessmen will only give donations if the event is widely reported on television. What makes them, with all their glamor and money, so different from the untrustworthy beggars? Wealth or no wealth -- it is easy to sell your sympathy -- and your soul. One assumes there would be less abuse if the government agencies assigned to assist the poor did their job properly -- cleanly and efficiently. But one shouldn't been too negative. On the upside, most Indonesians despite having to weather tough economic times, are almost always willing to help out and are genuinely charitable people. The result of a survey by the Public Interest Research and Advocacy Center conducted in 11 towns across Indonesia in 2004 revealed that 99.8 percent of the respondents had one way or another donated something in the past year. This percentage shows a slight increase from 98 percent recorded in 2000 in a similar study. Which brings us to the final question. If most Indonesians are genuinely charitable, open and honest, and happy to give their money or time to help others out, why do these same people not trust the government to properly manage their money? The writer works on The Jakarta Post's Opinion Desk. He can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Something is new at Yahoo! Groups. Check out the enhanced email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/SISQkA/gOaOAA/yQLSAA/uTGrlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! 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