It's Too Early to Judge Someone: Essay |
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Often other people view us in the wrong way. I am often judged in ways that are contrary to my character, especially by people I have just met or have known for a long time but are working closely with for the first time.
The story goes, while enjoying afternoon coffee, Friday (12/01/2024), a journalist said that a lecturer at Malikussaleh University, who was one of the selection committee members for the Election Supervisory Body in Aceh, said I was arrogant after being assisted in the selection.
"Never said hello again, as if he didn't remember," said the journalist friend, quoting the lecturer's words.
I am shocked. The problem is, I am quite familiar with the law lecturer and in fact, I have contacted him several times to ask him to be a resource person at the Lhokseumawe City Bawaslu. He has been a resource person in legal activities under the Legal, Prevention, Community Participation and Community Relations Division.
In this division, I am the coordinator for Bawaslu Lhokseumawe City. I myself contacted the lecturer concerned who asked him to be a resource. I also apologize for not being there because I was taking part in activities outside the area.
In carrying out activities at the district/city Bawaslu, regardless of who started it, there is a tradition of making selection committee members into training resource persons. This kind of culture gives the impression of giving back services, but that is not always the case.
For me, making someone a source must have the capacity and be relevant to the theme we are asking for. So, it's not just with the intention of returning a service.
We discuss the decision to determine sources in a plenary meeting, or even without a meeting, other members tell us who has been invited. The problem is, sometimes other members do not mention the theme for certain sources so that it is not relevant to their scientific discipline.
For example, a Bawaslu leader in Aceh Province once questioned why we invited a female activist to deliver material on dispute handling. In fact, the female activist who is also a member of the selection committee, has no experience as an election observer and does not have the capacity to handle election disputes.
I agree. When a member of the Lhokseumawe City Bawaslu mentioned the activist's name, he did not mention what material was presented. His decision to invite the activist was a big mistake. However, my friend cannot be completely blamed because we didn't ask.
It was different when he invited a lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Malikussaleh University as a resource. I asked questions in the group and assessed whether the resource person concerned (who was also my friend) had experience as an election organizer. The Lhokseumawe Bawaslu member said that the material presented had nothing to do with elections, but rather how to compile reports and create data.
I myself was the moderator of the activities which were attended by members of the sub-district supervisors. And I saw that the lecturers at the Faculty of Economics and Business really mastered the material.
Well, the Law Faculty lecturer who thought I didn't remember for some reason thought so. If it is intended that we have to invite them many times, it must be adjusted to the theme and activities whether they are present or not. If you say you never asked him for coffee again, you never did before. We are quite familiar, but have never participated in activities together.
So far, I have often helped the lecturer through reporting. Maybe I haven't served him according to his expectations, contacted him more often, invited him more as a resource, I'm sorry, I can't do that now. And we've only been on duty for five months. There's still a lot of time ahead. So, it's still too early to judge someone.[]
Peutua Rumoh Rayeuk, January 13, 2023
