one persists, and does everything necessary the right way, one cannot fail to get it.’
Hasnah drew Sugeng close to herself, and whispered into his ear, ‘I love you.’
Sugeng felt as though he were choking. Also as though his body were suddenly drained. It was the first time he had lied to Hasnah. Until now there had been no secret between them. Hasnah, sensing something, asked,
‘What is it, kak?’ 1
Sugeng forced a smile, laid his arm around Hasnah’s shoulders and said,
‘Nothing. I’m just happy that we’ve got a house at last.’
And inwardly he swore to himself that this would be the one and only time that he would engage in corruption. Never again. Sugeng embraced and kissed Hasnah with such passion that Hasnah was startled and cried out,
‘Aduh, my belly. Naughty, that’s what you are.’
‘Ah, forgive me, friends, I am late,’ said Suryono, entering. ‘Good evening, Ies.’
He sat down near Iesye. It was the usual evening meeting at Pranoto’s house.
Murhalim, who was talking, waved a hand to Suryono and then said,
‘After this brief interruption caused by the arrival of our highly esteemed brother Suryono, may I now continue my talk?’
‘It might be good to recapitulate what you’ve said so far, brother Murhalim, so that brother Suryono can follow this discussion fully,’ suggested Pranoto.
‘Ah, no need,’ quickly responded Suryono. ‘Just continue.’
‘The problem confronting us with regard to our relationships with Europe is which of Europe’s basic values should we accept, and which to reject. This question is obviously not new, and one which our people have been facing a long time. Also, it is not exclusively an Indonesian problem, but a problem that confronts all Asian peoples. We may take as an example the case of the Japanese. As we know, the Japanese have learned all the secrets of Western technological progress, and have used them to build up their own nation. Brother Pranoto once wrote that before they’d be able to utilise Western technology our people must first undergo a psychological change. Just as an example, take our Indonesian fishing community – you can’t give them modern equipment, such as motorised boats, etc., before all their old beliefs are changed – only then will they be able to make full use of it. So, for instance, there is one fishing village where, I understand, there are strict taboos connected with their fishing gear which is still very primitive. But the advent of engines and all sorts of modern appliances which will overcome the problems of tropical nature and climate will change all this. Their whole way of life must be changed to conform to the acceptance and utilisation of this European technology. Similarly, the expansion of industry, with the use of machines in factories, in mines, in transportation equipment, on land, at sea and in the air, in the offices of the government and in private enterprise, all this brings new values into the life of Indonesian society. The question of the spiritual values which underlie this technology is rather complicated, and – should Indonesian life be made to conform with this newtechnological sphere, or must the technology from Europe be made to harmonise with the Indonesian spirit? These are the questions which arise, and it is my hope that we can discuss them tonight.’
‘May I be permitted to say a few words first?’ asked Pranoto. ‘Since brother Murhalim has just mentioned my writings, I’d like to explain that when I wrote that the spiritual life of the people must change in order to receive European technology I didn’t mean it as an absolute condition. More precisely, I meant to indicate that if we wish to preserve harmony in our society the acceptance of technology makes a change in the people’s mentality inevitable.’
‘Ah,’ said Suryono, ‘I am baffled. Why do we worry about whether or not to accept European values? Considering the developments in the world today,
Hasnah drew Sugeng close to herself, and whispered into his ear, ‘I love you.’
Sugeng felt as though he were choking. Also as though his body were suddenly drained. It was the first time he had lied to Hasnah. Until now there had been no secret between them. Hasnah, sensing something, asked,
‘What is it, kak?’ 1
Sugeng forced a smile, laid his arm around Hasnah’s shoulders and said,
‘Nothing. I’m just happy that we’ve got a house at last.’
And inwardly he swore to himself that this would be the one and only time that he would engage in corruption. Never again. Sugeng embraced and kissed Hasnah with such passion that Hasnah was startled and cried out,
‘Aduh, my belly. Naughty, that’s what you are.’
‘Ah, forgive me, friends, I am late,’ said Suryono, entering. ‘Good evening, Ies.’
He sat down near Iesye. It was the usual evening meeting at Pranoto’s house.
Murhalim, who was talking, waved a hand to Suryono and then said,
‘After this brief interruption caused by the arrival of our highly esteemed brother Suryono, may I now continue my talk?’
‘It might be good to recapitulate what you’ve said so far, brother Murhalim, so that brother Suryono can follow this discussion fully,’ suggested Pranoto.
‘Ah, no need,’ quickly responded Suryono. ‘Just continue.’
‘The problem confronting us with regard to our relationships with Europe is which of Europe’s basic values should we accept, and which to reject. This question is obviously not new, and one which our people have been facing a long time. Also, it is not exclusively an Indonesian problem, but a problem that confronts all Asian peoples. We may take as an example the case of the Japanese. As we know, the Japanese have learned all the secrets of Western technological progress, and have used them to build up their own nation. Brother Pranoto once wrote that before they’d be able to utilise Western technology our people must first undergo a psychological change. Just as an example, take our Indonesian fishing community – you can’t give them modern equipment, such as motorised boats, etc., before all their old beliefs are changed – only then will they be able to make full use of it. So, for instance, there is one fishing village where, I understand, there are strict taboos connected with their fishing gear which is still very primitive. But the advent of engines and all sorts of modern appliances which will overcome the problems of tropical nature and climate will change all this. Their whole way of life must be changed to conform to the acceptance and utilisation of this European technology. Similarly, the expansion of industry, with the use of machines in factories, in mines, in transportation equipment, on land, at sea and in the air, in the offices of the government and in private enterprise, all this brings new values into the life of Indonesian society. The question of the spiritual values which underlie this technology is rather complicated, and – should Indonesian life be made to conform with this newtechnological sphere, or must the technology from Europe be made to harmonise with the Indonesian spirit? These are the questions which arise, and it is my hope that we can discuss them tonight.’
‘May I be permitted to say a few words first?’ asked Pranoto. ‘Since brother Murhalim has just mentioned my writings, I’d like to explain that when I wrote that the spiritual life of the people must change in order to receive European technology I didn’t mean it as an absolute condition. More precisely, I meant to indicate that if we wish to preserve harmony in our society the acceptance of technology makes a change in the people’s mentality inevitable.’
‘Ah,’ said Suryono, ‘I am baffled. Why do we worry about whether or not to accept European values? Considering the developments in the world today,
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