Chinese should respect
\nother religions<\/p>\n
Around the time of the Lunar New Year or Imlek, television
\nstations aired a number of Chinese-themed programs and serials,
\nand the print media published articles on Chinese dress, food,
\netc. To top it off, the government has announced that Imlek will
\nbe a national holiday.<\/p>\n
This clearly indicates that indigenous Indonesians have never
\nbeen against the Chinese and that their culture has long been
\nconsidered to enrich the local culture.<\/p>\n
Only during the New Order regime, the government banned
\neverything related to their culture and religion. However,
\nstrangely enough, the same government gave ethnic Chinese special
\ntreatment in the business sector, thereby creating tycoons and
\nunfair monopolies.<\/p>\n
During today's warm relations between Indonesians and ethnic
\nChinese, it disturbs me to read some reports in the local media,
\nwhich are a sharp contradiction, such as Sogo department store in
\nJakarta and the Ramayana department store in Tangerang imposing a
\nban on their Muslim employees wearing head scarves.<\/p>\n
The ownership of both stores is probably not 100 percent
\nChinese, but the public perceives them as belonging to ethnic
\nChinese.<\/p>\n
I am further shocked by the ban on elementary Muslim students
\nfrom wearing head scarves in Singapore, where the population is
\npredominantly Chinese. Based on this kind of attitude by the
\nChinese, I wouldn't blame some Indonesians for regarding them as
\nintolerant of other cultures and religions.<\/p>\n
If the Chinese would like their culture and religion to be
\nrecognized by others, then they should start respecting the
\nculture and religions of others first. Referring to the
\naforementioned case taking place in Indonesia, if they can be so
\nrestrictive with the followers of the majority religion, I wonder
\nwhat they will do to those embracing minority religions.<\/p>\n
PUTU YASA<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/chinese-should-respect-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }