Jimbo
26 years ago I was in a cafe in what was then Ujung Pandang. I was sitting at a table having a quiet beer before my evening meal when a young man picked up my cigarettes ( I was a smoker in those days) and helped himself.I was somewhat annoyed and grasped his arm and asked him why he did not ask first and how did he get brought up to have no manners. He was struggling a bit and the owner of the cafe came across and asked what was the problem. I was somewhate irate ans went on about the lack of manners (sopan) and who taught him to behave like this etc.All calmed down pretty quickly and I continued with my beer waiting for my meal. In came a man who was introduced to me by the boys father who sat down and apologised for his son. It was a minor problem for me but I was impressed by the man. I asked him why he had apologised and he told me this.Because I had said that his son had no manners he himself accepted blame for his sons actions. I was even more impressed. Just before he went he asked for forgiveness for any harm he had done me or others in the old year ( It was 2 days before the muslim new year). He told me it was a custom of the Bugis people not to take old grudges into the new year and so to wipe the slate clean so to speak for the new.Each year since that time I have followed that tradition and have asked for forgiveness from any and all of those who I have wronged in anyway in the last year. With just a few more days to our new year I ask for yours. Happy New Year and may it bring peace and happiness to you and yours.
