Letter for Minister of Communication and Information

Dear Minister of Communication and Information,

Sir, I read on newspaper that you would send a letter to a TV talkshow, called Republik Mimpi (Republic of Dreams). It is written on newspapers that you thought this talkshow does not educate Indonesians, because it parodies the leaders of this country, Indonesia. But sir, I don’t understand it.

I saw this talkshow few times, indeed it is one among small numbers of shows that I watch on TV, and I couldn’t see which part of the show that degrades our leaders. Yes, there are faux presidents and vice presidents, but so what? It’s the leaders of Republik Mimpi, not this country. Yes, they criticize and parody the situations in Indonesia, but so what? We laugh, even my maids laugh and wait this show. What makes you so upset? We don’t live in an era where a powerful one can control media and information. Well, surely you know this better since you are the minister of communication and information, not me.

I just think that you would fool yourself by protesting the show, worst if you really ban the show. Even my 3 year old nephew (no kidding, I’m serious) when he knew that this show was protested by you, asked his granny and I.

”Why Yepubyik Mimpi ic pyotested?”

“Because one of the ministers thinks it makes fun the leaders of this country.”

“Why he cinks co? Ic he the yeadey?”

“He’s a helper of the leaders.”

“Ay the yeaders angyie with the chow?”

“Don’t know. They don’t comment anything.”

“Why ic the heypey angyie?”

“That’s a good question. It seems that perhaps he will ban the show too.”

“What ic ban the show?”

“It means you cannot watch it on TV anymore. Stop the show. So no more Republik Mimpi on TV.”

“Ic it yaik I cannot cee Spongebob and Tom and Jeyie anymoy?”

“Sort of.”

“But Spongebob and Tom and Jeyie ay still on TV. Co why Yepubyik Mimpi not?”

“Because he doesn’t like it.”

“He not yaik it and can stop it? Can he stop Tom and Jeyie too?”

“If he can stop Republik Mimpi then he can stop Tom and Jerry.”

“Who doecn’t layk Tom and Jeyie? Can I ask the TV to stop boying cinetyon and yuns Tom and Jeiyie onyie?”

“Well you can try, but I doubt the TVs would listen to you.”

“Why not?”

“Because you are a small kid for them, not a president’s helper.”

“Can I do what I want if I am a pyesident’s heypey?”

And silence. So sir, conclude yourself. I believe I don’t need to compare you to a kid in diaper who cannot pronounce his name properly yet.

(Based on real conversation with a three year old boy who brings happiness and craziness with his endless questions in my life)

Note:

Yepubyik : Republic

Ic : Is

Heypey : Helper

Layk : Like

Ay : Are

Angyie : Angry

Yeadey : Leader

Cee : See

Chow : Show

Jeyie : Jerry

Boying : Boring

Cinetyon : Sintron (soap opera)

Onyie : Only

Yuns : Runs