The last one lashed out at him coming from Anies Baswedan, rector of Paramadina University. In his much-praised article (Kompas, 25/7/2011) entitled “Warning To Leader”, he criticized SBY’s negligence, indecisiveness, sluggishness, doubtfulness. At one point, SBY has ammunition of people’s support in presidential election, but it seems he never exercises this power. SBY doesn’t back his words with deeds. As matter of fact, there is nothing new with these.
Given his poor leadership, is SBY to blame?
By all odds, it’s not his fault. His ascendance was people’s choice. He did offer himself and people bought it. So we can ask how 60% voters can be so dumb in 2009 (and also 2004).
To me, in 2004, the best choice would be Amien Rais-Siswono, and in 2009, the best pair to lead Indonesia would be JK-Wiranto. Indonesia is fledgling democratic country with enormous basic problems of law enforcement, economy and politics, so it needs a strong leader who dares to take the bull by the horns. And SBY doesn’t fit the bill.
So why did people vote for SBY?
The answer might be simple: people get in love with SBY’s appearance. SBY has the best presidential look compared to Amien Rais, JK, or Megawati (We need Yingluck Shinawatra :D). With 175 m-tall, good-looking face, robust body and commanding voice, SBY attracts people, especially mature women.
In contrast, JK is short, not-so-handsome and too talkative. But in leadership, he is better than SBY. He can think and act faster. He used to be an entrepreneur, so he knew how to materialize plan, and solve problems with brainy solution. His adlib is always inspiring. He can shrewdly and wittingly answer barrage of tough questions. Unfortunately, he is not blessed with good physical appearance to support his capability. This also happened to Amien Rais, the father of Indonesian reformation.
How appearance has big impact in everyday life is a very serious matter and experts have studied it well.
To some extent, by voting for SBY, Indonesians is trapped in Warren Harding Error, coined by best seller author with thought-provoking insight, Malcolm Gladwell. In his book, Blink, he expounded how snap judgment can be good or bad.
By feeling the aura of an antiquated statue, expert can determine quickly it is real or fake. You can identify one’s character by observing one’s private room. Even experts can predict how long the longevity of marriage by listening few minutes of couple’s discussion. Observing few things can tell everything in a fast way.
But certainly the snap judgment has the downside too. It can go wrong and lead people to prejudice. Last year, in America a black professor who lost the key and tried to open forcedly the door of his own house, was precipitously arrested by a white man police. Soon it became national hot debate and drew President Obama’s intervention. The white man police must have prejudice, that if black man opening the door that way, he must be a thief and unlikely a professor.
Appearance can deceive. People looks good and capable can be bad and weak, and vice versa. This brings us back to Warren Harding Error.
He was the 29th President of United States. He is not smart, talented or able man, but he is handsome, even, great looking. Since the first time, he plunged into politics, a king maker, Harry Daugherty, had known his huge potential to be a president. It was merely just because Warren Harding had convincing presidential look. Nothing else.
In the 1920 election, he won by the largest presidential popular vote landslide in American history (60.36% to 34.19%) – see, it was almost the same percentage of SBY’ landslide win in 2009.
And according to many historians, Warren Harding is one of the worst American presidents!
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