Nature and culture should coexist<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some people believe everything in the world is
\ncreated in pairs. Naturally, the pairs are the opposite of each
\nother, just like day and night, good and bad, sweet and bitter.<\/p>\n
That positive-negative difference is believed to create
\nbalance in life. Like a yo-yo, life goes up and down. There is a
\ntime when one is in power and rich. There is time when one
\nis poor and weak. But no one can be in power and rich, or poor
\nand weak all the time. Everything changes and it is just a matter
\nof time.<\/p>\n
Former outstanding late ambassador Kusumasmoro once ask young
\nforeign service officers what was the opposite of nature. This
\nstriking question surprised them. After thinking hard for a
\nmoment, no one could come up with the right answer. They were not
\nunfamiliar with the word \"nature\", but somehow this simple
\nquestion stumped them.<\/p>\n
\"The answer is culture,\" Kusumasmoro told them. They stared at
\nhim. They worried that he may be cracking a joke, something that
\nhe was fond of doing. To make it clear, he clarified by giving
\nexamples. When one who is lost and thirsty in the desert and
\nstumbles upon an oasis, surely he\/she would jump into the water
\nand drink as much as he\/she can.<\/p>\n
That is nature. When one visits a colleague and finds
\nhimself\/herself very thirsty and is served a glass of water by
\nthe host, he\/she would drink it bit by bit. He\/she might not even
\nfinish it no matter how thirsty he\/she was, for the sake of
\npoliteness. That is culture. So, nature refers to the kind of
\nfreedom where people may act freely, not having to think about
\nhurting other peoples' feelings, while culture places limitations
\non people. Therefore they are the opposite of each other.<\/p>\n
It sounds plausible.<\/p>\n
Referring to the Oxford Dictionary, culture means 1.a.
\nintellectual and artistic, achievement or expression; b. refined
\nappreciation of the arts, etc. 2. Customs, achievements, etc., of
\na particular civilization or group.<\/p>\n
Nature, on the other hand, means innate or essential qualities
\nor character. Compare to the above example, the dictionary gives
\nno such clear understanding that they are the opposite of each
\nother.<\/p>\n
With regard to manner, however, there is no doubt that culture
\nis the opposite of nature. The aforementioned example might not
\nbe enough. To find another example, we don't have to go too far,
\njust look at daily life.<\/p>\n
My four-year-old nephew once cried out in a mall when his
\nmother refused to buy him an imported Japanese electronic pet
\n(tamagochi) the same as his brother's. That is nature. A
\nschoolboy, on the other hand, would never cry out loud in public
\nbecause of culture.<\/p>\n
There is an endless list of examples, but the following stand
\nout.<\/p>\n
When somebody accused of corrupt practices pretends to be
\npoor, that is nature.<\/p>\n
Buying a gun for a businessman who fears he will become a
\ntarget, while disbelieving he is well protected by security
\nofficers, that is also nature. By the way, where is the opposite
\nmanner, the intellectual and artistic achievement or expression,
\nto be called \"culture\"?<\/p>\n
During the New Order regime, it was well known that Indonesia
\nwas a culturally rich nation -- even officials boasted about it
\n-- and people were friendly to everyone. It was not clear,
\nhowever, what culture the officers referred to. The truth is that
\ncorruption, collusion and nepotism was part of people's daily
\nlives.<\/p>\n
When the word \"culture\" refers to dancing, singing and other
\ntraditional ceremonies and performances, it is true Indonesia is
\nhome to that kind of culture.<\/p>\n
Although some of the arts have disappeared, there are still
\nthousands left! But when we refer to the word \"culture\" as the
\nopposite of \"nature\", it is not that easy to find the \"culture\"
\nof daily life.<\/p>\n
If one were to examine recent cases, he\/she might not find
\nmuch culture, or even grow to doubt whether culture exists at all
\nwhen considering the May, Semanggi, Ketapang and other incidents.<\/p>\n
Surely it will be difficult to find \"culture\" in the recent
\nhappenings in Ambon and Sambas where people are killing each
\nother without trial. What inhuman behavior when people proudly
\nbehead others and put the heads on show!<\/p>\n
Frankly, the latest changes worry me, especially when, with
\ngreater frequency, people act according to \"nature\". What would
\nhappen if such \"nature\" comes to be considered as \"culture\"?<\/p>\n
-- Amrih Jinangkung<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nature-and-culture-should-coexist-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }