If you live in Indonesia (also in many other parts of the world), it's easy to tell when the election time is around. Even if you don't watch TV or read newspapers or listen to the radio. You can always tell. How?

Take a walk outside. Drive your car around town. Get out of your house. And unless you're blind, you'll know that it's almost time to vote again.

I spent my summer holiday in my hometown, Makassar (I live in Bandung, about two hours flight plus three hours drive). It feels good to be home, of course. I missed my family so much. I missed surrounded by my loud little cousins and I missed talking and chatting with my aunts.

And after a series of (failed) kitchen experiments and ending up grabbing whatever left in the fridge or putting yesterday's pizza in the microwave, how great is it to be able to eat nice decent meals your grandmother made for you? Bottom line. It's good to be home.

Anyways.

That afternoon I arrived at the airport. My aunt was there to pick me up. It usually takes a 45 minute drive from airport to home, so auntie and I were talking and chatting and generally being happy to see each other when I saw a giant billboard of someone, I don't know who (let's call him Mr.Bill Bored) on the way. It says:



Selamat Idul Fitri

Drs. HM. Bill Bored, SH, MH

Selalu mendoakan kesejahteraan untuk Makassar


Which means in English: "Happy Eidul Fitri (an Islamic celebration after Ramadan-fasting month). (title) (another title) Bill Bored, (title again) (again, title) Prays for the prosperity of Makassar".

Eek. I don't know if it's funny in English, but let me tell you this: this guy is a gubernatorial candidate. One. And two, he is in desperate need of a campaign manager, and I'm not sure he's aware of that. I mean, please. So he prays. Which is a GOOD and generous thing to do these days. He prays for the prosperity of Makassar. So? Does he expect people to vote for him for that? Or maybe it's in the name? The too-many-but-redundant-and-unnecessary titles? Drs. HM. Bill Bored, SH, MH. Wow. Whoa.

Ouch, my eyes.

When I first saw Mr. Bill Bored's Billboard (with his picture on it, almost forgot to mention), I laughed so hard my aunt had to stop the car. She looked at me and said "Oh, Rara, please. That's the first one you saw, honey!" And yes, she was right. Along the way I saw posters and bumper stickers that say things like "DRIVE SAVE- BROUGHT TO YOU BY BILL BORED". Eh?

It turned out that the gubernatorial election was four months away. And the whole town was "decorated" with fancy billboards, posters, stickers, pictures of men you didn't know before, and words and promises that (are supposed to) make you will want to vote for them.

I mean, if you ask me, it just turns me off. If I were to give away my vote for someone to be my governor, It had to be someone I know, at least. It had to be someone famous for whatever positive things he/she had done for my province. I definitely wouldn't want someone I've never heard of before to vote for, no matter how many titles he's got, no matter how handsome he looks on that huge billboard.

And sadly, most of the candidates showed up to public during the last trimesters prior to election. I mean, heh? Hello, where'd you come from? WHO ARE YOU?

I could go on forever but I don't feel like writing anymore. It's just funny, but of course sad. And it is hypocritical to put up all your fancy titles and achievements shortly before the election. I don't think it's too much to want someone who actually deserves to be your leader. And I don't think it's too much to want someone who accomplish great and patriotic things purely because they are entitled with dedication-and not to print em up with big fonts for some random by-passers to see while they're driving.

My aunt said "Well, I got over it, honey. Took me a while to get there, but I got over it".