November 15, 2016 edition
'Your Mouth Is Your Tiger'
TO lead a peaceful and calm life, the proverb 'Look during the day, listen during the night' applies to everyone, especially for a public servant, since every word and move he/she makes draws public attention. Whatever a public servant does, like celebrities, will become news. That is why he/she is called a newsmaker. Thus, the proverb 'your mouth is your tiger' applies to him/her, too.
The story of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, or Ahok, has drawn the attention of so many people. It has instigated a movement, drawing a massive wave of people from all over the country. This is not only amazing but also worrying because it shows how influential Ahok is. What he says can cause many people to react and take action. If a mass takes action, logic usually evaporates. Things could get out of hand like the event of November 4. The demonstration itself went about peacefully. However, after the time limit of its permit was over, things happened that hurt the true purpose of the demo.
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