REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, By Karta Raharja Ucu/Editor of ROL, twitter: @kartaraharjaucu
Yesterday afternoon I received a BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) from a teacher on my BlackBerry. Be a man who endeared others. So when you are separated with them, we will be missed. Do not be a human being where we are not welcome and anyone else hoping that we should get out of from their life.
According to my teacher, there are three types of people. His/her presence is not expected, his/her presence did not bring about change, and the last, his/her presence is sorely missed. Be the last one, my teacher said.
The conversation was interesting, especially, if it is associated with the heat of polemics about the future publication of a book authored by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY).
Actually a President wrote a book is something usual. Remarkably, the book will be published in the year of politics and in the final year of his term, in which all politicians and political parties are pubescent and flirty looking for public attention.
But what's the problem?
Indeed, the President has had its time to complete his term from the highest ranking seat in Indonesia.
Sooner or later, SBY should pack his bags and stepped out of the Presidential Palace in 2014.
As a president, all the movements of a man, who spent his childhood in Pacitan, is certainly a spotlight. Yes, when he composed a song. Yes, when he authored a book, when jaunting with friends to Monas monument, people will give comments. There are oblique's comments, or there are also straight forward or ordinary comments.
But, there is a common thread between my teacher's BBM with the countdown of the last minute of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as a president.
Yudhoyono was treading a long career before becoming president. A series of post has been served by the son in law of the late Gen. (Ret.) Sarwo Edhi Wibowo.
First time he appeared [publicly] as a spokesman for the Armed Forces faction ahead of the 1998 General Session on March 9, 1998.
He also became Chairman of the Armed Forces faction in the Special Session of the the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in 1998.
His career increasingly surged after he was appointed as Minister of Mines and Energy in the administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid in 1999. He also briefly served as Coordinating Minister for Political, Social, and Security (Menko Polsoskam).
When the government switched to Gotong Royong cabinet of President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Yudhoyono re-appointed as minister. This time, he was inducted as Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs (Menko Polkam).
But, feeling that he was not trusted anymore by Megawati, Yudhoyono took off his ministerial position ahead of the 2004 election.
In a nutshell, the establishment of the Democrat Party on September 9, 2002 strengthens his name reached on top his political career. When Democrats was declared on October 17, 2002, Yudhoyono nominated to be presidential candidate in the 2004 presidential election.
His ability on rhetoric was attracting public's mind when people on a need for smart and prestige new leaders. Moreover, he took Jusuf Kalla, who is known as a businessman with quick thinking as a vice presidential candidate.
Finally, he won the 2004 presidential election and continued in the 2009 election. The long story of Yudhoyono's career left an interesting story.
One of them, the President had become the 'enemy number one' for Megawati supporters, reportedly after an argument with her, the daughter of the late Bung Karno.
At this point, the President became a man, whose presence is not expected, especially by Megawati and her supporters. But he was supported by people who saw him as a 'victim'.
Now, at the end of his term, many people doubt over Yudhoyono's leadership will be missed.
A pile of problems, such as corruption cases that ensnared cadre of Democrats, to be one of the reasons people start to lose faith on the father of two children.
Actually, a man missed by others may start from their own households. The story of Umar Bin Khattab [RA] who chose to hear his wife complaints when she was sad, can be an inspiration.
A high level person such as Umar- who the devil just scampered up and choose a detour when the devil meets him-was really, really respect his wife.
He chose to be a good listener when she is upset. Umar's reason was simple. His wife had given birth to his children, cooking for him, washing the clothes, so it seems inappropriate if Umar denied his wife's complaint.
History was certainly able to describe how Umar became man whose presence missed by others, especially by his wife.
Correlated to Yudhoyono, Umar and to became a man whose presence sorely missed by others is also reflected from the birth of a baby and the death of a person.
When a baby is born, those around him - especially his parents- are smiling in happiness.
Meanwhile, when someone dies, those around him crying over the loss, but he hoped to be smile when facing The Creator.
Borrowing the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad SAW; the best man is a man with benefit for others.
From the hadith, a question aroused, has the President been the best man that could benefit others? The answer could be yes, it could be no. It depends on you.
What is clear, I hope the President and people of Indonesia included in a category; 'cry at birth, smile at death.'
Ed: Heri Ruslan
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