Chameleon Politics, There Are No Eternal Enemies

In fact, their interest in joining is for self-security and self-defense, just like chameleons.

Chameleons, reptilian animals that have the ability to change the color of their skin and will blend in with the colors of the leaves around them. This color change is called mimicry.

The aim of changing color is for the chameleon to resemble the color of the leaves around it, in order to protect and defend itself through camouflage for self-security. In our daily lives, people who are indecisive and tend to be inconsistent are usually referred to as chameleon-like humans.

Furthermore, in the world of politics there is always a saying that there are no eternal enemies, because what is eternal is interest. Based on this adage, moving someone in and out of another political party is normal and not an insult.

Similarly, in a political party coalition within a government, it is natural for political parties that were previously at odds in the general election contest to easily switch and join the election winner. Such politics can rightfully be called chameleon politics.

The reason why political parties that were once opponents then join forces as allies is always classic, namely for the sake of the nation's interest, for the sake of national reconciliation, and for other purposes. However, if carefully observed, their true interest in forming a coalition is for self-protection and self-defense, much like a chameleon.

Finally, we will soon see which political parties will switch fences to become friends in the coalition after previously being opponents in the 2024 Election. Will there be many chameleons in this country? Or are the political parties in our country steadfast in their founding principles and be virtuouscarry leksana? Time will answer.

Sri Handoko

Tugurejo, Tugu, Semarang

“Broken Windows” of the Beloved Country

The 2024 Presidential Election has ended after the KPU appointed the pair Prabowo Subianto and Gibran Rakabuming Raka as elected president and vice president. Through this reader's letter column, I would like to provide a small note as material for collective reflection.

In my city, Wonogiri, graffiti is now rampant everywhere. Scribbled writings are present on walls and abandoned buildings. Even on the sides of a train bridge that crosses over the main road.

The phenomenon of widespread graffiti made me remember the broken windows theory from criminologists James Q Wilson and George Kelling to explain the origins of the crime epidemic.

According to them, criminality is an inevitable consequence of disorder. If a window of a house is broken, but left alone, anyone passing by tends to conclude that surely no one cares in that environment, or that the house is uninhabited.

In a short time, another window would be broken and later anarchy would develop that would spread around the place.

Furthermore, in a city, small beginnings such as graffiti, disorder and extortion are equivalent to a broken window, an invitation to engage in even more serious crimes.

Does the broken windows phenomenon also occur in the national and democratic life of the Indonesian people?

As far as I remember, in the general elections in Indonesia, this is the first time in the 2024 elections that intellectuals from campuses and politicians submitted an amicus curiae to the Constitutional Court regarding the election dispute that occurred.

According to my layman's understanding, this amicus curiae is nothing more than a signal of the vigilance of our intellectuals regarding the broken windows phenomenon that occurs in national and democratic life in this republic.

Can we both be optimistic about improvements in the future?

Bambang Haryanto

Wonogiri, Central Java

Homecoming and Return Notes

The trip for mudik (homecoming) and return through the toll road on April 10 and 12, 2024 is interesting to note. My family usually chooses to start our mudik journey to Tegal from Jakarta after the Eid al-Fitr prayers.

Departing from Jakarta on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024, we entered the toll road from Cawang, East Jakarta, at around 10:30 AM. The condition of the toll road up to the exit gate in Tegal (Adiwerna) was relatively crowded, but smooth. However, there is a slight note.

First note, when entering the additional rest area it turns out there are not enough toilets. This is different from the promises and statements of related parties, namely that there will be more car/portable toilets. In fact, in the temporary rest area of ​​Cikampek-Palimanan, toilets are scarce.

When the vehicle entered, there were no officers in sight except for volunteers. Directional signs for parking are also less visible.

In essence, after working hard to find a parking space, finding a toilet is also difficult.

Another thing to note, to be able to leave the rest area, you have to be patient because the traffic route is chaotic.

Meanwhile, the return flow on Friday, April 12 2024, was relatively busy. Our notes regarding the manual tap toll card service.

To increase the number of places for payment transactions, there are additional officers carrying transaction tap tools. It turns out that being served manually takes longer. Because, after the officer receives the e-money card and swipes it on the transaction device he is holding, he has to wait until the paper proof of the transaction comes out.

The new officer handed back the e-money card along with paper proof of the payment transaction after the paper was torn from the swipe tool.

This is different if the transaction is carried out automatically. After tap the card and the toll gate opens, we can immediately continue our journey without having to wait for paper proof of transaction.

Another note, the number of traffic police officers does not appear to be large along the Cawang to Tegal Toll Road.

A Ristanto

Pondokgede, Bekasi City