A distinctively new year<\/p>\n
The measure of a nation's greatness lies in its ability to
\nreconcile its diversity.<\/p>\n
There continue to be many things wrong with this country.
\nEvery day, this and other newspapers report an endless stream of
\ninjustices that occur across the archipelago. Still, amid all
\nthat is wrong it is heartening to find some things so gloriously
\nright.<\/p>\n
The continued outpouring of benevolence for victims of the
\ntsunami in northern Sumatra is one such thing. It marks a triumph
\nnot only for Indonesians, but humanity as a whole. Without
\nprejudice to religion or race, people donated and contributed
\nwhatever they could to comfort those in need.<\/p>\n
The upcoming two-day national holiday is another measure of
\nhow far this country has come. The commemoration of the Chinese
\nNew Year and the Islamic New Year, which fall on consecutive
\ndays, shows that plurality can work without the imposition of
\nstringent controls, as was the case during the New Order era.<\/p>\n
Less than a decade ago such adjoining public events would have
\nbeen unthinkable. Chinese cultural traditions were considered
\ntaboo. Under a misguided political pretext -- related to the
\nanti-communist hysteria -- anything that was even vaguely
\nconnected to Chinese culture was frowned upon.<\/p>\n
Few even stopped to ask what Chinese culture, one of the
\noldest and most revered in human history, had to do with modern
\nCommunism?<\/p>\n
Generations of Indonesians of Chinese descent were forced to
\nsuppress their heritage and forsake their identity. The
\npolitically correct phrase of the day was "assimilation", but in
\npractice it was closer to discrimination.<\/p>\n
President Abdurrahman Wahid was the first to ease the cultural
\nrestrictions in 2000 by allowing ethnic Chinese to resume and
\ncelebrate their cultural identity. President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri went a step further in providing the ultimate
\nacknowledgement of Chinese culture by declaring the Lunar New
\nYear a national holiday.<\/p>\n
The stereotypes have not been completely jettisoned from
\nignorant minds, but formal acceptance of Chinese culture is a
\ntremendous leap forward. Even non-ethnic Chinese can now enjoy
\nthe richness of the occasion.<\/p>\n
In similar fashion, the Islamic New Year generates distinct
\nrites and ceremonies that may not be strictly religious in
\nnature.<\/p>\n
Satu Suro festivities, for example, always draw a large crowd
\nat the sultan's palace in Yogyakarta, where a hodgepodge of
\nanimism and Islamic rituals are intertwined with each other.<\/p>\n
Each religion or faith is distinct. One cannot interchange
\nbetween them. But distinctiveness does not have to lead to
\ndifferences. Our sense of identity, as Indonesians, draws upon
\nthis richness of cultures and faiths, whether or not a person
\nfeels tangible links to them.<\/p>\n
The ethnic Chinese can appreciate and respect the Islamic New
\nYear just as much as Muslims can enjoy the colorful festivities
\nof Imlek.<\/p>\n
Because whether it is the Year of the Rooster or 1426 Hijriah
\non the Islamic calender, everyone is commemorating and praying
\nfor a safe and prosperous 2005.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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