People can teach this kind of thing until they are blue in the face but it's not going to make any difference until there is a sense of pride in being Indonesian. And I'm not talking about this immature tribalism and envy (I hate Malaysians - they pinched our nasi goreng!) that passes for nationalism.

At best it seems to me, people are resigned to being Indonesian. Just as they are resigned to being poor, or not having a fair go or not having a chance to make a better life for themselves. This Indonesia and this is me and I have to put up with it - mentality.

What infact these people are asking for is a docile society. They are asking people to trust a system that has not furnished them with results. It could and it should and I have no doubt it can, but at present it has lost all integrity because it is maniplulated by the corrupt.

They should actually learn something from the radicals and the extremists and the terrorists (all of whom I completely abhor and oppose).

At least these extremists are trying to change Indonesia, albiet in all the wrong ways.

What's required is another form of revolution - one that challenges the feudal, paternalistic, corrupt oligarchy of the rich and the politicians. What's required is a level playing field brought about by a no-holds war on corruption which will instill a sense of pride and hope in people so that any kid in any kampung can realistically feel that if he or she works hard he can end up President of this country because the opportunity is a possibility.

The national ideology is ignored because it hasn't delivered results.

It is seen as empty rhetoric not worth striving for because too many people are simply struggling to get by day by day. After nearly 70 years of Independence that is unacceptable and no excuses will do.

If you want people to be proud of their country and to live in peace and harmony, create the circumstances for that to happen.

The people who could have influenced that and had the power and opportunity to do so, simply haven't because they have been concerned with their own interests and have neglected the task they should have done.

That has created a vacuum. Now the extremists are filling that vacuum with other ideologies. They are promising a better future - especially to the young and the disaffected.

What is the government offering?

Classes in national ideology? That's going to make a big difference I don't think.

How better it would be if the government could offer young people a decent intelligent education and the opportunity to move up and on and become financially secure.

On the positive however we seem to be witnessing more and more open acknowledgement of the dangers of radicalisation. I feel this is a major step, if it is followed with words and deeds it could represent a ray of hope

MG - this I assume is the anti purification movement?