Indonesia’s First Lady gets criticised for comment
“Stupid”. This was the comment left by the wife of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on October 18 after an exchange on the online photo-sharing social media service, Instagram.
Kristiani Yudhoyono is an avid user of Instagram, uploading hundreds of photographs, and getting tonnes of comments and “likes” for them. Kristiani uploaded a picture of her and her family wearing traditional batik clothes on a beach in the East Java district of Pacitan, the birthplace of her husband.
One of Kristiani’s followers by the user name @erie_nya wrote, “Batik is now worn everywhere, not only at official functions, but also at semi-official events, events for leisure.” That seems pretty tame, right? Discussing how batik clothing is worn at different functions whether formal or casual. But Kristiani took this as criticism, and struck back with harsh words.
“Oh my God, your comment is very stupid,” The First Lady spewed from her high horse. “Didn’t it occur to you that we were on an official visit and stopped briefly at the beach as we were passing by?”
“Don’t you have better things to say?” she added.
This angry reaction from the First Lady sparked many Indonesians to come to her defense on both Instagram and Twitter, while others went on to note of her disgusting comment.
“Maybe the First Lady needs to be educated about the correct use of social media. Pity the people,” a Twitter user going by the name @jungjawa said.
Yet, the deputy chairperson for Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party rushed to Kristiani’s side, defending her, stating, “Why can’t she speak her mind?” Nurhayati Assegaf said to Kompas daily. “She should be commended for showing that she’s just an ordinary human being.”
Right, because nothing is more worthy of being commended than showing rudeness.
Was it really criticism to note when batik clothing is worn? Did Kristiani overreact to such a neutral comment? Of course, why not soften such harsh words by having other officials state that that type of behaviour is that of “an ordinary human being.” It’s fine, no worries.
“Stupid”. This was the comment left by the wife of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on October 18 after an exchange on the online photo-sharing social media service, Instagram. Kristiani Yudhoyono is an avid user of Instagram, uploading hundreds of photographs, and getting tonnes of comments and “likes” for them. Kristiani uploaded a picture of her and her family wearing traditional batik clothes on a beach in the East Java district of Pacitan, the birthplace of her husband. One of Kristiani’s followers by the user name @erie_nya wrote, “Batik is now worn everywhere, not only at official functions, but also...
“Stupid”. This was the comment left by the wife of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on October 18 after an exchange on the online photo-sharing social media service, Instagram.
Kristiani Yudhoyono is an avid user of Instagram, uploading hundreds of photographs, and getting tonnes of comments and “likes” for them. Kristiani uploaded a picture of her and her family wearing traditional batik clothes on a beach in the East Java district of Pacitan, the birthplace of her husband.
One of Kristiani’s followers by the user name @erie_nya wrote, “Batik is now worn everywhere, not only at official functions, but also at semi-official events, events for leisure.” That seems pretty tame, right? Discussing how batik clothing is worn at different functions whether formal or casual. But Kristiani took this as criticism, and struck back with harsh words.
“Oh my God, your comment is very stupid,” The First Lady spewed from her high horse. “Didn’t it occur to you that we were on an official visit and stopped briefly at the beach as we were passing by?”
“Don’t you have better things to say?” she added.
This angry reaction from the First Lady sparked many Indonesians to come to her defense on both Instagram and Twitter, while others went on to note of her disgusting comment.
“Maybe the First Lady needs to be educated about the correct use of social media. Pity the people,” a Twitter user going by the name @jungjawa said.
Yet, the deputy chairperson for Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party rushed to Kristiani’s side, defending her, stating, “Why can’t she speak her mind?” Nurhayati Assegaf said to Kompas daily. “She should be commended for showing that she’s just an ordinary human being.”
Right, because nothing is more worthy of being commended than showing rudeness.
Was it really criticism to note when batik clothing is worn? Did Kristiani overreact to such a neutral comment? Of course, why not soften such harsh words by having other officials state that that type of behaviour is that of “an ordinary human being.” It’s fine, no worries.
