Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Mayday!

Today is May first which to most people from north America means nothing at all. Since I have been living in Indonesia however it has come to mean something very specific. Stupidity. May 1st is international workers day which celebrates those who work and is often embraced by unions especially which is fair. It is also used globally to protest poor pay, rights, and so on which again is fair. In Indonesia however things are a bit different... I've mentioned multiple times previously how Demo's (Demonstrations) as they are called here are really just a farce. Huge numbers of Indonesians rally together usually wearing matching t shirts of some bright color waving flags about in big convoys of hired busses. But often times they are paid to join! So what is the point I ask? I drove past a Demo two days ago which had blocked off most lanes causing severe traffic only to see one man shouting through a megaphone to a bunch of people half listening half eating who had been paid to join! What is the point?! The whole city of Jakarta is effectively shut down and our school is being called home early for what? Nothing will come of these Demo's they are just a farce! 90% of the people involved are only involved because they are being paid and would rather sit around eating snacks than go to work. It makes me so sad...

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