Dear Rio,
Racing is such a new sport for me. I have no idea what it
is. Then, you showed up on the media for your efforts searching funding to be
the first Indonesian F1 racer. You look nice, very polite, just like any other
Solo people. Things run normal until I saw your picture by Reuters praying by
closing your eyes. Asking for Allah blessing that He may lead you on the way
you go racing by giving up yourself totally to God. I was stunned. How on earth such a young boy
has a such high spiritual level. Believing that your soul, your body, your
footstep, your life, and your breath are belong to Him. For us, those things are lip service, but you
really do it. I wish I could pray like you do. Though my age is double than
you, but spiritually, you’re much older than me. Everyone said it’s a normal
way of praying for a racer as the sport is a risky one, once an accident
happen, you may lose your life. But still,
I do appreciate your spiritual level.
Start to feel interested, I search all the things about Rio.
Your interviews in many TV shows. You choose a path to be a racer and dream to
be an F1 racer. A very lonely path, full
of pressures, hard work, and (perhaps) only limited number of friends. Racing is
an expensive and a mean business. By being an asian in the white people’s world,
you’ve been treated unfairly and it still goes on. Everyone wants to show off in
front of your face proving “who is the boss”. But you keep fighting. And
fighting. The best thing you have is a total support from your family. Racing here and there, only by yourself. You even sang the national anthem, alone. Still
you said, “I don’t mind if my country does not really pay attention to me, the
most important thing is, what I have done for my country”. Damn Rio !
I cried when I heard you said that.
Do you know Rio, how many people really love this country? A few, very few. Even “they” who supposed to keep
the dignity and be at front for the country, are the one who destroying it. Most
people are thinking only about their own business. What the hell with other’s
people interest. Make money as much as they can. Who cares about the
environment. Who cares about the marginal people. Sometime I wish there would
be a huge tsunami occurred throughout this country. Swap away the bad guys and
leave only good people. You are safe
because you stay in other country.
This I gave you a note from an anonymous who hate Indonesia
but I think what he wrote is true.
This country is full of discrimination,
racists, religious fanatics, also corrupt system and politicians. Diversity in
this country is very fragile, the people are easily provoked into chaos,
especially if related to religious issues. Indonesian always sugarcoat their
country as the most kind and loving country in SEA, which is in my opinion
blatant ignorance and lie. Most people can't mind their own business and love
to force their opinion on you. Most Indonesian are uneducated and aggressive
barbarians, they are so eager to solve anything by violence. And worst, most
people who have high education also so eager to insult and act like savages
because of their extreme religious fanaticism. In this oh-so-peace-loving
country, it's okay to critic Christian and other religions, but if you critic
Islam, they will act aggressively and send death threats to you. Don't get me
wrong, there are truly kind and peace-loving moslems in Indonesia, but the
extremist and blind fanatics overshadow them. The good moslems usually got
peer-pressured to silence. This country is a sad country.
Are you still proud to be an
Indonesian ? I am, because I have no
choice. But you are different. You have the opportunity to make a choice. You can
have a nationality where the country can support you fully, financially, for
your professional career. But you refused. Fool Rio, you make me cry again.
Not all people supporting you. Some
thinking that you’re just wasting money. Sports for people born with a golden
spoon. They forgot that everything in the world nowadays is about marketing. Social
media is the arena for contestation. The one who could get the most attention
will be the one who will get the most access. Market, power, performances, funding
sources, networks, you name it. It’s hard to make people understand when they
used to live inside a box, framed in their own little world.
In my world, in nature
conservation, many countries try to prove that they are the most green one by
implementing green economy, having green
product, putting environmental services as priorities. Eco-tourism becomes a
big business. New Zealand is a good example. See what we have. The mega biodiversity
country has its own citizen burning down forest, burning down their own assets,
their own dignity. For nothing but
money. Sad, isn’t it.
Rio, we both are born in a sad
country. Having the nationality of a sad country. Where only a few really love the
country. In this case, at least we are at the same side. No matter happen,
right or wrong, I love this country and
I will do the best I can to make it better.
NB. We should dive together some
day. Karimun Jawa would be a good choice.
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