There has been numerous acts of sexual harassment that occur in Jakarta, Indonesia, recently. Most of it happen in public transport during night. The newest victims was student from university, who got kidnapped when she was going home using public transport. Some of the perpetrators were arrested, while some of them remain unknown. Polices are still working hard to find all remaining criminals, but what surprisingly is a comment from Jakarta's own governor who said that women should give an extra thought to the cloths and accessories they wear to avoid attracting unwanted attention. This is, by far, the most ridiculous comment ever. It is hard to believe that even in the mid 21st century, there are some people that blame women for 'unwanted consequences'. Still that comment was considerably 'soft' compared to statement from West Aceh regent who made national headlines for suggesting that it was all right to rape a woman who whore tight pants. What is wrong with our government officials? Why blaming their own people for a crime that happen to them?
Numerous response comes and divided people arguments. One is agreed with these two government officials and blame women for all sexual harassment that happen. They believe that if women dress properly in public location none of these 'situations' will happen. They also added that dressing properly is shown as 'east' tradition (which is based where Indonesia is) where tights and hot pants are 'west' culture, therefore it is not suitable for Indonesian people. Come on people wake up your mind! We are not living in 18th centuries where knights are fighting for glories, dungeon and dragon or whatever it is. In the world where information are spread around like air that we breathe, we need to think, say and act more wisely. Behave accordingly and more appropriate in 'hot' situation like this. An old saying 'cat will eat fish' is an old saying. it is. therefor it is not irrelevant to be used anymore. Try to use that simple thing called imagination when you see a good looking girl wearing mini skirts in front of you. She could be someone sister. Do you want your sister to get raped? No. Then don't rape (if your answer is yes there is positively something wrong with your brain or you both just don't get along that well). Now imagine if that thing happen to someone you know. Someone you love? someone you cared about? If you get this idea, people will think twice if they want to rape someone.
It is true that wearing sexy outfits can drove sexual harassment. Even so, it is just one from many other reasons such as pornography, unstable security, weak law and punishment and many more reasons that need to be regulated so the criminals will think twice or more if they want to harass someone. Lust is one of human nature. The one that we can control if we really want to. The question now, can we as a man willing to do it? To control and behave our nature against hot-delicious-tempting-fish a.k.a women in tights and hot pants? Or we just do what our nature told us and behave like a wild animals then blame women for what happen? The answer is rely within you my friend. Dig out your heart and hear what it says.
