Integration of Chinese<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
The Feb. 2 editorial of this newspaper succinctly and
\ncorrectly discussed the integration of the Chinese community. It
\nseems that the word "becoming" connotes a simple meaning.<\/p>\n
In fact, it is here that the key to integration lies.
\nBasically, what is sought is the right model of integration to
\nensure that Chinese-Indonesians will become real sons and
\ndaughters of the motherland. There is more to just policies.
\nSomething more effective to this end is needed.<\/p>\n
Junus Yahya, in his book titled Idealist Chinese-Indonesians
\nquotes Hamid Algadri, a community figure of Arabic stock, as
\nsaying: "We are all the same. There are no differences. Yet,
\nChinese-Indonesians are still subject to discrimination. Even if
\na thousand laws were written by the people on top, it would be of
\nno use to the Indonesian community. What counts is the effort of
\nChinese-Indonesians themselves to win the trust of the people at
\nlarge." (Optimis magazine, August 1983).<\/p>\n
Perhaps, the success of integration, U.S.-style, could be
\nadopted as an appropriate model. The idea of a loose melting pot
\nallows the U.S. community to have areas known as Chinatown,
\nLittle Vietnam, Little Korea, Little Italy and so forth.<\/p>\n
Hopefully, the concept of integration may become a topic of
\ndiscussion in the cultural congress scheduled for this year.<\/p>\n
SIRIUS IRAWAN, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/integration-of-chinese-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }