Unity and assimilation<\/p>\n
I am very concerned that children aged 5 and under have
\nwitnessed the sad events in the world and in our own country.
\nHowever, when I read the last couple of lines of the poem From
\nIndonesia with Love, June 28, I took courage from it. How good it
\nis that sensitivity in thought and feeling can be taught in early
\nchildhood, as with the grandson of Mrs. Djoeweriah P.S., the
\nauthor of the poem, who is immediately drawn in following the
\nprayers at a mosque after he has finished playing.<\/p>\n
Budi Pekerti, the teaching of moral values and the like, is
\nindeed best taught to young children. They would spontaneously
\nadopt the moral values of responsibility, concern for others and
\nthe environment, valor, ability to accept differences, etc., so
\nthat the development of negative attitudes would be avoided.<\/p>\n
Recently, I felt sad when I heard the complaint of a woman.
\nShe was worried because her teenage daughter looked ethnic
\nChinese. There was nobody of Chinese blood in her family. She
\nsaid she regretted the behavior of ethnic Chinese who staunchly
\ndefend their ancestral traditions, which are considered by part
\nof the community to be pagan, causing characteristics marked by
\nlittle concern for others, difficulty in adaptation and
\nunpatriotic attitudes. This is believed to be one of the causes
\nof the riots.<\/p>\n
I also deplore the existence of gaps, fortresses of prejudice
\namong our fellow countrymen, indigenous and nonindigenous (please
\nabolish this terminology). Let us have happy circumstances in
\nwhich we care for each other, do not hold prejudices against each
\nother, do not ascribe negative characteristics of individuals to
\ngroups; the more so at these critical times when we very much
\nneed to unite because if we are divided, we will collapse.<\/p>\n
Because I was born and raised and have lived in a family and
\nthe environment of a pluralistic society, I feel fortunate to
\nknow the beauty of our multifaceted culture including the ethnic-
\nChinese culture. The essence and the objective of cultural
\npluralism are basically the same, they only differ in their ways
\nof expression, perhaps, because of differences in local climate,
\nconditions and custom. There are so many meeting points and
\nsimilar values contained among the cultures. Unity in diversity!<\/p>\n
For the Chinese-Indonesians who choose to follow their
\ntraditional beliefs, there is no fear of ambiguity for their
\nancestors' country, for less nationalism, as long as the
\ninterpretation of their religion\/tradition follows the right
\npath, full of tolerance. According to previous generations of
\nethnic Chinese, prayer rites, such as incense and offerings, are
\nused as symbols of moral values\/life guidelines and not as
\nidolization offerings.<\/p>\n
According to historical records, assimilation and
\nacculturation have been happening for hundreds and, perhaps,
\nthousands of years. This can be clearly seen from the various
\ntypes of food, clothing and art, in short, the various Indonesian
\ncultures which contain universal values. Therefore, it is not
\nsurprising that some indigenous people resemble ethnic Chinese,
\nwhile some ethnic Chinese look like indigenous Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Hartati A.<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unity-and-assimilation-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }