Aceh, I weep for you<\/p>\n
From Koran Tempo<\/p>\n
I can still recall clearly the time when I performed my ritual
\nFriday prayer at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque in Banda Aceh with
\nNurcholish Madjid as the preacher that particular day.<\/p>\n
Taking part in the communal prayer was also the Aceh Governor
\nAbdullah Puteh, now on trial for corruption.<\/p>\n
I can also still recall clearly how local vendors sold us
\ntheir merchandise and how gratifying it was to drink ice mixed
\nwith cucumber and syrup, which was sold beside the mosque.<\/p>\n
Words pale before the devastation that a major earthquake and
\na massive tsunami have wreaked in Aceh. Buildings collapsed and
\ncorpses were scattered everywhere.<\/p>\n
When you remember Aceh, you call to mind a certain pride as
\nwell as its several predicaments. Following this devastation, you
\ncan no longer sit in a leisurely way at a roadside coffee shop,
\nsipping your coffee and reading a newspaper. You can no longer
\nsit in an open-air cafe facing the sea in the afternoon while
\nchatting with your buddies off of Olee Lheue Street.<\/p>\n
Indonesia weeps. The plight of Aceh is the plight of all
\nIndonesians whose conscience is filled with concern over the
\ndestiny of their fellow countrymen in Aceh. It seems that the
\nplight that the Acehnese have to suffer is unimaginable. But,
\nthen, no man can do anything in the face of an act of God. We
\nsimply must believe that God has a plan, which is a mystery to us
\nhumans.<\/p>\n
The enormous natural disaster that has hit Aceh has reunited
\nus all as fellow countrymen to share the plight of our sisters
\nand brothers in Aceh. The silver lining is that we now realize
\nthat we are still a nation that loves one another and is
\nconcerned with one another's sufferings.<\/p>\n
Aceh, I weep for you. I gaze at you with a deep longing to
\ntouch you in God's love.<\/p>\n
ANWAR M. NOER<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/aceh-i-weep-for-you-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }