A Letter to World Leaders

This letter was written in response to (and I wish I had written) the keynote speech and was intended to be read to the world leaders at the APEC summit, here in Bali. Then I realised that I was not invited and was not allowed to go anywhere near it, let alone to attend.

Dear honoured guests,

You all know that this island has been visited by the world leaders of many countries before today, beginning with the leaders of trade, a long time ago, who explored the island’s beauty and riches, followed by the leaders of the world religions who planted the island with spiritual and artistic seeds, which has helped Bali to grow into one of the most culturally vibrant places in the world. Not only political leaders have come here in recent times, but also leaders in other fields, doing their academic seminars, yoga festivals and even sports tournaments like tennis and golf.

As for the world’s leading corporations. Bali is not just a gathering place, but they have made this island their home. And a very lucrative home at that, represented by long chains of shops, hotels, villas and spas, malls and supermarkets, everywhere.

To ensure your gathering of world leaders proceeds smoothly, we have fixed the roads, the tunnel has been dug, the airport expanded and updated, and even a new freeway, suspended above the swampy sea, has been erected, to bypass and avoid the traffic congestion. For this is the gathering of the most powerful people in the world, working to solve the problems of the world and, of course, those of Bali too.

As a Balinese I am happy to see our world leaders here. I love to watch your motorcades going for miles, from behind a barricaded road, which has been closed to the public for hours. I am proud that my island has been regarded as your favourite place, so I welcome you all with my best and finest dances and songs.

I wear traditional Balinese attire in serving and hosting you, and carve a Balinese motif on stone walls on the sides of new tunnels and roads. I have placed offerings and sprinkled holy water on the cars that will carry you. After all, Balinese tradition has it that a guest is a king, indeed, to be respected and treated with courtesy and a smile.

The culture of serving with smiles and humility has also afforded the Balinese the reputation of being one of the most friendly and humble people in the world, and they remain so, despite major calamities that have befallen the island, such as terrorism and economic crisis, as well as environmental problems brought by tourism and rapid urban expansion.

Then there is the law of karma, yet another reason why the Balinese can keep smiling and remain agreeable in the most adverse situations. In the absence of logic and intellectual perception, trust in the divine will save the day. This profound and non-erodible tradition is one reason why visitors come to Bali in their millions.

Having seen these gatherings of world leaders, I am inspired to be a leader too. One day I too may sit among some very important people, giving seminars and instruction on wisdom and spirituality, on the economy and arts, and perhaps assisting in solving the world’s problems in general. Who knows?

In the meantime, while learning, I am happy to be a caddy on the golf course. At sunset, I collect the stray golf balls from the rice fields. These fields have been purposely scattered around the course to give this world class green an authentic, traditional Balinese ambience.

For security, we have employed our own army of traditional guards (pecalang), to assist in protecting you, world leaders.

From these gatherings, hopefully, we Balinese can one day be leaders too, and decide our own fate and our own lives. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. [T]

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