Between fake and true morality

Between fake and true morality

Al Makin, Yogyakarta | Tue, 04/19/2011 10:26 AM | Opinion, The Jakarta Post

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The public wonders why the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) paid more attention to the case of Arifinto, a legislator who was caught red-handed watching a porn movie during a House of Representatives plenary session, than to Misbakhun’s involvement in “Centurygate”.

While pornography may disturb one person’s mentality, corruption can lead to the destruction of the whole system. Pornography violates only a sexual taboo, while corruption causes damage to the nation’s morality.

Well, this can be answered simply. Pornography is much simpler than corruption, although both cannot be avoided by party leaders. Arifinto was indeed alone in watching the video, whereas Misbakhun must have worked with a “team”.

Corruption often involves various agents working together as a team. Melinda Dee, who is accused of embezzling millions of dollars from the Citibank where she worked, was never alone. Investigations have so far found that she had a network and teammates.

If Misbakhun was forced to resign, it would cost only his political career for a moment. The faces of other members of the party — who also have likely ever taken pleasure in watching porn (in fact, in many meetings that have taken place in various hotels parliament members may have watched porn movies) — can be saved.

The public is again deceived with the hope that the case is simply dismissed due to the resignation of the wrongdoer, who publicly repented by evoking God’s name.

In this vein, religion plays its part in politics. It is a salvation for both the politician and the party.

Arifinto’s sins, and his party’s damaged name, are washed. End of story.

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