http://m.republika.co.id/berita/en/...ores-threepoint-agenda-over-ship-naming-issue
Of course the stupidity goes both ways. Singapore side pple say 'Indonesia naming ships after terrorists'
We must be very silly to play into the hands of politicians' games to whip up populist sentiment for their own purpose. Leaders from both side like to portray the other side as harbouring ill intentions and playing up old wounds. The purpose of this is to justify various things like excessive defense spending...to do this you need to demonise the otherside.
The above article claimed that Singapore is a buffer for the US in this region. The narrative in Singapore has been we need to watch our neighbors s the harbour Ill intentions towards us and are not in favor of our success and existence using decades old history as examples. It also say Indonesia should not let its guard down because Singapore is an undemocratic country armed to the teeth.
Relations between countries is like relations between pple. What you believe is what you get. If you believe your next door neighbor is against you and wish ill of your family, you will shape your behavior based on that believe and that generates the kind of respond from your neighbor that justify your beliefs. This type of behavior leads to wasteful arms race, excessive defense spending etc. And the fact is you only need to spend to counter threats and the less your neighbor spends the less you can spend and use the funds to benefit your pple.
Because it is always useful for politicians to demonise to justify defense spending, such issues as the naming of ships is always a good chance for both sides to whip up nationalist sentiments and use by hawkish elements to push throigh defense spending. A citizens we are silly to be the pawns in such games. When the singapore side accuse indonesia of being insenstive, they can ask easily say Singapore is insensitive for hosting an Israeli leader years ago. Even though Singapore has almost no dealing with Israel today, they will use past events to whip anti-singapore sentiment. We as citizens must be wary of the games played by politicians and foster friendly ties at the ground level.....not to allow vicious cycles to form and distrust to deepen.
One good example is Europe. They fought the first and second world war country against country but today they are in Union and despite their differences, the old wounds have healed and they can spend less on defense. In Asia unfortunately things have the opposite direction with an assertive China. But within ASEAN we have to constantly move ahead with greater cooperation reduce the friction between countries. It starts with the ordinary people checking the actions of democratically elected leaders to steer the country to a better outcome.
Of course the stupidity goes both ways. Singapore side pple say 'Indonesia naming ships after terrorists'
We must be very silly to play into the hands of politicians' games to whip up populist sentiment for their own purpose. Leaders from both side like to portray the other side as harbouring ill intentions and playing up old wounds. The purpose of this is to justify various things like excessive defense spending...to do this you need to demonise the otherside.
The above article claimed that Singapore is a buffer for the US in this region. The narrative in Singapore has been we need to watch our neighbors s the harbour Ill intentions towards us and are not in favor of our success and existence using decades old history as examples. It also say Indonesia should not let its guard down because Singapore is an undemocratic country armed to the teeth.
Relations between countries is like relations between pple. What you believe is what you get. If you believe your next door neighbor is against you and wish ill of your family, you will shape your behavior based on that believe and that generates the kind of respond from your neighbor that justify your beliefs. This type of behavior leads to wasteful arms race, excessive defense spending etc. And the fact is you only need to spend to counter threats and the less your neighbor spends the less you can spend and use the funds to benefit your pple.
Because it is always useful for politicians to demonise to justify defense spending, such issues as the naming of ships is always a good chance for both sides to whip up nationalist sentiments and use by hawkish elements to push throigh defense spending. A citizens we are silly to be the pawns in such games. When the singapore side accuse indonesia of being insenstive, they can ask easily say Singapore is insensitive for hosting an Israeli leader years ago. Even though Singapore has almost no dealing with Israel today, they will use past events to whip anti-singapore sentiment. We as citizens must be wary of the games played by politicians and foster friendly ties at the ground level.....not to allow vicious cycles to form and distrust to deepen.
One good example is Europe. They fought the first and second world war country against country but today they are in Union and despite their differences, the old wounds have healed and they can spend less on defense. In Asia unfortunately things have the opposite direction with an assertive China. But within ASEAN we have to constantly move ahead with greater cooperation reduce the friction between countries. It starts with the ordinary people checking the actions of democratically elected leaders to steer the country to a better outcome.
