Soekarno and Other Idols

Nobody's perfect. That's why it is a folly to find a perfect person. Nevertheless, some figure are considered to be at least near-perfect, and idolized by millions. People really want to idolize SOMEONE, they even buy it when a student in New York ACTED as if he were a celebrity. Yes, people are THAT desperate looking for an idol.

A good example for "real" idol, unlike that student in New York, is the founding father of Indonesia, Soekarno. Indonesians in millions idolizes him until today. His daughter, Megawati Soekarnoputri, wouldn't have such fame and power if she were not Soekarno's daughter. Her party, PDI-P, wouldn't have a chance to be one of the largest party in Indonesia. His political ideas, marhaenism, is pretty much alive in modern Indonesia. 

The Good

Yes, Soekarno had charisma. He was one of the best orator ever seen by this world. Whenever he spoke, everyone listen. Not because he forced them, but just because his oration was always rousing, interesting, and powerful! 

Yes, Soekarno was also one of the founding father of Indonesia, he played a large role in dealing with the Japanese, coordinating the independence struggle against the Dutch etc, that is also undeniable.

In the end, Soekarno passed away as a broken man, in a house arrest that was initiated by his successor, Soeharto, after a chaotic coup, and show trials that followed it. It was an injustice, and this injustice add more sympathy and charisma to Soekarno's figure.

The Bad

But do people forget that his economic policies were disastrous? Price skyrocketed, large queue sprout up for every single commodities, GDP growth is non-existent, etc.?

Do people forget that his Peraturan Presiden nomor 10 tahun 1959 was practically a regulation for segregation and it had ignited anti-Chinese riots and movement?

You see, Soekarno's flaws were not negligible, they were serious enough to cause famine and misery to millions of Indonesians. They were serious enough to create social riots, and segregation. But so many Indonesians still idolize him until today. That is the main problem.

The Ugly
Like I said in the beginning, Soekarno's rhetorics and ideas are still alive. His erroneous economic ideas that ruined Indonesia in the 1950s and 1960s included. Because those ideas were said by Soekarno, suddenly it has validity in front of so many Indonesians. Can we really judge an idea based on its validity, NOT on who actually said it? 

 Naah, it is impossible. Humans, I myself included, are too gullible and emotional from total rejection of argumentum ad hominem.

The reason for this is simple: so many people at the bottom of their heart never wish for freedom and responsibility. They wish to be guided, to be directed. They wish to have an idol who can give such guidance. That's why they overlook his failures, and in the opinion that no one has the right to criticize him/her. Responsibility and freedom is heavy, it is far easier to give them away, and be guided. It is harder to be singled out "It is your fault!" if you are "only following." Even if other people don't buy it, WE can say that to ourself, absolving us from any guilt.

It is impossible to argue with someone who refuse to think and only want to follow. Compounded that with the fact that so many people also want acceptance, making them avoid debate. As a result, we got blind followers in millions.

GROW UP PEOPLE, Soekarno is not a God, his ideas are not perfect! 

The saddest thing from this is, Soekarno is not the only idol. You can easily find other idols in ANY country, from ANY culture, so many people still prefer the easiness of subservience to the responsibility of freedom ...