Dilemmas for Indonesian Muslims in U.S.<\/p>\n
Djoko Susilo, Legislator, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy in the U.S. continues,
\nand Indonesian Muslims in the U.S. are among those adjusting to
\nthe reality.<\/p>\n
Along with arrests of a number of Indonesian citizens in the
\nU.S., as suspicion of links to the al Qaeda networks in Indonesia
\nare raised, a degree of fear has spread among Indonesians in the
\nU.S., particularly Muslims living there.<\/p>\n
As a person who lived for almost four years (1988-1992) in
\nWashington DC as a newspaper correspondent, I had the opportunity
\nof meeting various Indonesian Muslims in America.<\/p>\n
One reality of being a Muslim in the American context is
\nhaving to decide whether to celebrate holidays that are part of
\nthe American -- and often Christian -- calendar. The Islamic new
\nyear, of course, is part of the lunar cycle and thus does not
\ncoincide with New Year's celebration in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Most of the persons I met, however, saw no reason not to
\nobserve the Western new year as long as it did not mean joining
\nthe celebration \"with a lot of alcohol and a lot of dancing and a
\nlot of other non-Islamic behavior. \"<\/p>\n
Interestingly, many Indonesian Muslims also observe American
\nholidays that stress family relationships, such as Valentine's
\nDay and particularly Mother's Day and Father's Day. In large
\npart, this reflects an interest in participating in customs that
\nare particularly American. As one man who regularly celebrates
\nall the three holidays, he said he does it \"for their symbolic
\nsense, because it is an American custom, and you are living in a
\nWestern environment.\"<\/p>\n
And an Indonesian Muslim woman reflected her appreciation of
\nthe chance to show a little family consideration in a number of
\nAmerican celebrations. \"On Valentine's Day we exchange presents.
\nMy husband has never missed Valentine's Day. All these years he
\nhas brought home a big heart-shaped chocolate.\" Several others
\napplauded the idea of Mother's Day and Father's Day because the
\nKoran enjoins respect and honor for one's parents.<\/p>\n
The Indonesians, both Muslims and non-Muslims in Washington DC
\ngenerally observe the two major national holidays, Memorial Day
\nand the Fourth of July, by attending fireworks or parades,
\nputting flowers on tombs, having picnics, and relaxing. The area
\naround the Washington National Monument is a favorite place to
\nwatch the fireworks.<\/p>\n
\"I celebrate Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. Being an
\nIndonesian who lives in America I think it is befitting to
\ncelebrate. The reason I celebrate July Fourth is that I want to
\nbe like other Americans. I am living here, I make my living in
\nthis country, I am with everybody who is for freedom,\" said
\nYusuf, an old friend who works as a taxi driver in Maryland.<\/p>\n
Almost all Indonesian Muslims who were parents said that their
\nchildren celebrate Halloween with the other children in their
\nneighborhood, dressing up in costumes and going door to door for
\n\"trick or treats\". Most of the adults gladly handing out candy
\nand other goodies to the young children who come to their
\ndoorsteps on Halloween.<\/p>\n
An Indonesian woman who said she was from Bandung, WestJava,
\nsaid that they used to have Halloween parties for the children in
\nthe social hall of the mosque until a Muslim from a Middle
\nEastern country complained that it was inappropriate both for a
\nmosque and a Muslim.<\/p>\n
\"I don't think it is a Christian custom either for a child to
\ndress up and go door to door and ask for candy!\" she remarked.<\/p>\n
Generally those interviewed on the subject of Halloween,
\nhowever, were happy to say, \"Halloween is fun for the kids ... I
\nalways liked Halloween. I love children and that is an occasion
\nto show those children that we care about them.\"<\/p>\n
Many Indonesians also celebrate Thanksgiving with turkey at
\ngatherings of family and friends. A few think of Thanksgiving as
\na \"Christian Holiday\" but I never met anyone who objected to the
\ncelebration of \"Thanksgiving Day\" among our community. We feel
\nthat while Thanksgiving is a religious as well as a social
\noccasion, it is an American custom that transcends individual
\nreligions and can be used as an opportunity for those of all
\nreligions to give thanks to God.<\/p>\n
My family and I at least attended one or two thanksgiving
\nparties each year. One which was very memorable for me was held
\nat the house of Richard Schicorza, an official from the Foreign
\nPress Center. We reached his home in the suburb of Virginia under
\nheavy snow.<\/p>\n
A friend, Imam, referred to the historical background of
\nThanksgiving, when the pilgrims offered their thanks for God's
\nblessing. \"So it is not in conflict with Islam,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, of all the widely celebrated holidays in America,
\nChristmas seems to provide the greatest dilemma for Muslim
\nfamilies. Although it is clearly a Christian holiday, it now has
\nbecome a very secular social and commercial holiday as well. Even
\nthe religious aspect of the occasion is not irrelevant to
\nMuslims, who recognize Jesus as a very important prophet whose
\nbirthday should be respected. However, a great deal of confusion
\nand divided opinions have been expressed over the degree to which
\nthey should celebrate Christmas.<\/p>\n
One Indonesian said they celebrate Christmas for two reasons.
\n\"It is important to get involved with American society, and if
\nyou don't celebrate Christmas and Thanksgiving, you are telling
\nthose people you are not part of American society, you are
\nsomething else.\"<\/p>\n
\"How can you be effective, how can you affect those people if
\nthey think that you are completely different? You cannot,\" said
\nAndi, a student at the American University who regularly comes to
\nFriday prayer at the Indonesian Embassy.<\/p>\n
\"First of all you have to make them understand that you are
\njust like them. OK, they are not better than you. Then you can do
\nyour own thing, that is fine. So you have to celebrate Christmas,
\nwhich is very important to them.\"<\/p>\n
The second reason, Andi said, is that Muslims do believe in
\nJesus, as one of God's prophets.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Muslims said they just come and join celebrations
\nafter religious ceremonies are over.<\/p>\n
Given their efforts to adapt, it is hard for me to believe
\nthat my fellow citizens living in the United States would and
\ncould join a terrorist network to do such barbaric and horrible
\nthings. Indonesians there are happy to become good Muslims as
\nwell as American residents.<\/p>",
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