Commenting Article/Multika Lega Problema/3

COMMENTING THE ARTICLE

About the article:
1. Title                       :  Minat Membaca dan Menulis

2. Author                   :  Yudhit Ciphardian

3. The Writer Flash    :   Professor of Unika Widya Mandala, Surabaya, Indonesia    Community Members for Democracy

4. Publication Date    :  Saturday, January 31^st, 2009

5. Publisher               :  Kompas Newspaper

6. Column                 :  Tajuk Rencana

               Referring to the article as described above, in my opinion, the theme which presented by the author is very interesting because as an educational person, this is a very essential topic and it is suitable for all ages. The problem of reading and writing are not a secret anymore because those problems are always penetrated indiscriminately, from children to old people. These are the root of many other problems. The scope of these problems is very suitable to the conditions of Indonesian society today. Therefore, I am very interested to raise this issue to the surface to be explored further.

               In summary, this article contains the comparison between Indonesia and Vietnam about the interesting on reading and writing. The cheapness and ease of the book price are the main factor why the interesting on reading and writing in Vietnam country is growing rapidly. Fauzi Bowo, the governor of DKI Jakarta (Kompas, 28 / 1) said those were caused by the amount of government attention and participation, such as the subsidies and the development of an adequate book stores.

               Vietnam, a country that was independent from the shackles of colonial rule 23 years later than Indonesia, the state which in the 1970s was still learn to develop basic education and learn to grow crops of rice from Indonesia, it is able to reverse the situation right now. Vietnam becomes one of the rice exporters to Indonesia. In my mind, the reversal of that situation was strongly influenced by the basic problems of developing interest in reading and writing. Again back to the problem of reading and writing, because those are a problem that needs serious treatment to enhance human resources for the advancement of the nation.

               This article also explains that the book productions every year in Indonesia and Vietnam are very contrast. By 225 million of Indonesian people are able to produce 8000 titles only, while Vietnam with 80 million citizens are able to produce 15,000 titles of books. Therefore, it is not ethical when we, as a nation of Indonesia say that the libraries are incomplete and the books are very less. The previous words just a burst of passion from people who are greedy. Why do I say that? Of course I will not say it without any causes. I'm not sure those people who say that have read all books which available in the library. That is a sign that they can’t grateful for something. "When a book is not there, it is expected to be there, but after it is there, instead it is left by them." Maybe that is a sentence that deserves to present for Indonesian public today.

               How will we able to write anything if we read rarely? Reading is the basic needs to get sciences. Those sciences will lead us to be able in writing, expressing ideas and responding something. Like reading is a science door, then writing is our contribution to make the newest doors for science development. Both of them are very causal and correlated each other.

               The meanings of the article contents make me learn about the appropriate way to appreciate a book, any book that is. I realize that the making process of the books is not easy like reversing the palm of our hand. As a teacher candidate who in fact is the basis of life, reading and writing are primary needs and the primary obligation to establish a better life ahead. Although we have a very good idea, but if we can’t apply it in writing, it will not useful to the world. Greek philosopher said that people who could not express their thoughts, he was considered could not think. Therefore, as the future generation who must bear the major responsibility to promote and restore the glory of Indonesia on the world stage, look at the world by reading and catch the world by writing. The impossibility is the discourse only because nothing impossible when we say it is possible and we always try to achieve that.