Conversations with Elsie

Obama has nasi goreng for dinner?

Kata Jakarta — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 12:33:43 +0000

Good, now I now what to serve by overseas friends when they come visiting. I will tell them I will serve you what the Presidential Palace served Obama when he visited Indonesia, Nasi Goreng and Bakso and also rambutan if in season.

Well, must say Indonesian fried rice tastes real good. My sis said, she has tried many types of food in Indonesia and her conclusion is the best is still Nasi Goreng

Sri Mulyani, my hero

Kata Jakarta — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:31:57 +0000

I seldom find reason to respect politicians and I wish Malaysia has more ministers like Sri Mulyani, the Finance Minister of Indonesia. Listening to her answering questions about the Bank Century case increased my respect for her. It is so obvious that she is just doing her job, it will really be a waste to Indonesia to lose someone with such calibre.

Listening to her again on the Rossy show just now confirmed what I have been thinking; to get any job done, it is best to get a professional, rather than to appoint politicians. Career politicians should never be appointed ministers. The reason why Singapore is being run so well I believe is because the ministers are basically professionals turn politicians, rather than politicians masquerading as be professionals which are mainly the case in most countries. However, the interview just now would have been much better if Rossy, the host is more free in letting the interview flow naturally, rather than forcing her own agenda.

Belief in God is allowed

Kata Jakarta — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:21:49 +0000

Just watched the spokesperson for the Indonesian Police Force defending against the accusation that police has been too trigger-free in dealing with the terrorists, as a total of nine terrorists on the wanted list have been shot dead in the past few months including Noordin M Top.

The spokesperson said, as a people who believed in heaven and hell (afterlife judgment), it is not the police policy to deliberately kill the terrorists but the act has been carried out in self defense and in public interest as the terrorists are armed and were hitting back at the police with their home-made bombs.

Indonesia is unique in the sense that belief in the afterlife and correspondingly in God is institutionalized and one can go on national television to declare it and everybody is okay with it.

Atheism has obviously not caught on in this country.

Premature adulation

Kata Jakarta — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 03:48:28 +0000

Obama winning the Nobel Prize. Looks pretty much like a case of premature adulation.

Why has he done for peace on the international stage apart from making speeches and pushing the right buttons with the international communities?

Can use him to do a case study on the power of charisma.

Appearing on TV to look for partners

Kata Jakarta — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:21:04 +0000

All these TV reality shows are really something.

Takes a lot of guts to go on a show and have all thirty people telling you that that they don’t like you. Why would anyone put themselves through this is beyond me!!

The death of a terrorist

Kata Jakarta — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:17:15 +0000

News about the death of Noordin M Top are everywhere.

It might not be difficult to understand why he chose the path he had chosen. There are bound to be people like him in most organized religions.

In terms of years, he didn’t live that long as compared to most, but one must say that he did make a huge impact especially in Indonesia and to those who have family members died as result of his terrorist acts will no doubt remember him for life.

If he was to be asked what was the purpose of his life, wonder what sort of answer he would come up with? To kill the kafirs and to destroy anything or anyone which are related to the West and which are perceived by him and the likes of him of being against his belief?

Wondered if he found his life worth living and his belief worth dying for? The latter would probably be true for him but not sure about the former.

However, he did marry at least three women and sired several children while on the run for the past nine years..so he is really making the most out of whatever life he is living.

To live and die for what one believes in…though utterly misguided but in a sick way, it could be a life worth living.

Heroes and villains are made of this.