Are we creating enemies that don't really exist?<\/p>\n
M. Ali, MBA Graduate Student, Nottingham University, England<\/p>\n
Haven't we suffered enough from victimization and conflict
\nalready in Indonesia? Now it seems like we have had years of the
\ncreation of conflicts on all levels of our society. Enmity has
\neither been allowed to grow or has been provoked between
\nreligious denominations, ethnic groupings and political
\ndesignations. Now we have racism rearing its ugly head to
\ncompound our problems.<\/p>\n
People might claim that they are defenders of Islam and that
\nthey are true believers and guardians of Muslims -- but some of
\nthese people are entering into mindless prejudice and abuse of
\nhuman rights that has absolutely nothing to do with keeping the
\nfaith.<\/p>\n
Maintaining that they are getting rid of the \"bad influence\"
\nof the West and dealing with those responsible for the deaths of
\nMuslims in Afghanistan and Palestine, some people act in an
\noffensive and abusive way to our foreign guests in Indonesia. And
\nit has to be noted they specifically pick out the white
\n(Caucasian) people for their abuse.<\/p>\n
There is no real thought in selection of people that might be
\nthe targets of \"sweeping\" or other forms of offensive behavior
\nsuch as name-calling and insults. The single motivating factor is
\nthat they are \"white\", bule, and so, they must be the enemy. This
\nis so wrong and so offensive that it must hurt and shame all
\ndecent and respectable Indonesians.<\/p>\n
An enemy is someone who strongly dislikes or even hates us and
\nso it simply goes against all logic to think that Westerners,
\n(white people) in Indonesia can or could be our enemies. The vast
\nmajority of Westerners that are in Indonesia are working
\nexpatriates who contribute directly to our economy and in many
\ncases are engaged in organizations and projects that are directly
\nlinked to our development in these difficult times.<\/p>\n
It is then deeply disturbing and damaging to set these people
\nup as being our enemies when all too clearly they are not.<\/p>\n
It should also be hoped that Indonesians could see beyond the
\ncolor of skin and see and appreciate what may lie beneath. In
\nchoosing to \"sweep out white skinned Westerners\" people claiming
\nthat they are defending our Muslim brethren might in fact be
\nattacking and hurting them.<\/p>\n
Two good friends of mine illustrate this point. One has been
\nliving and working in Indonesia for more than 12 years. He works
\ntirelessly to help the most needy members of our society.<\/p>\n
Apart from that he is also a devote Muslim. He reads the Holy
\nKoran with such depth and understanding that he can recite
\nrelevant extracts to illustrate the point he is making. He never
\nfails to complete his daily prayers and he has taught many others
\nabout the virtues of Islam. Therefore, great and deep are the
\ninsults when he has had people tell him that he should not stay
\nin Indonesia. That he should leave simply and stupidly because of
\nthe color of his skin.<\/p>\n
How can he be considered an enemy of Indonesia? But his wisdom
\nand tolerance allow him to talk to the people that would wish him
\nill and he tries to educate them so that they can see that he is
\nnot their enemy.<\/p>\n
A second friend, however, finds it more difficult to be
\nforgiving. He too has lived in Indonesia for perhaps more than 10
\nyears. He has married an Indonesian and they have two children.
\nHe actually gave up his American citizenship to become an
\nIndonesian citizen. But now he hears muttered words of abuse as
\nhe passes people by. He has for a long time been used to people
\nlooking at him and making him feel odd or alien just because he
\nis white -- but now those looks have changed.<\/p>\n
Before the rumors of \"sweeping\" and the creation of the notion
\nthat white people are no good, he like so many others, was able
\nto just laugh at those stares and looks of amazement at his white
\nface. But now those looks and stares have turned sinister and
\nthey concern him. He is worried for the welfare of his children
\nand has even expressed doubts about being an Indonesian citizen.<\/p>\n
These are terrible observations indeed. There are, of course,
\nmany problems in our world today. And perhaps many of those
\nproblems can be traced to Western influences. But creating
\nenemies here in Indonesia is not going to help solve our
\nproblems.<\/p>\n
In truth it will only create more problems. We have suffered
\nlong enough under an economy that is in a terrible condition.
\nMaking foreign investors fearful of coming here again is a
\ndisaster that we can ill afford to bring upon ourselves. We need
\nto do business with the world -- that is our future.<\/p>\n
Even if we set aside monetary and investment matters, we must
\nstill think of human rights; what some people are willing to
\nthink about doing now is completely contrary to human rights.<\/p>\n
Racism and prejudging people cannot be allowed to exist in our
\nnation. We have already seen too much damage done to us
\ninternally because of these things. If we allow outsiders to be
\nmisjudged and misplaced as our enemies, we will only do greater
\ndamage.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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