Writes within context of conflict<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, Contributor, Surabaya<\/p>\n
\"The human body<\/p>\n
Like the world and everything in it<\/p>\n
was made from earth, water, air, and fire<\/p>\n
was separated by conflict, the neikos<\/p>\n
was attracted to each other by love<\/p>\n
the philotes<\/p>\n
the alternation.....\"<\/p>\n
These lines are taken from Love and Strife, a poem by Retno
\nHastijanti, declared one of the best poems and poets in 2002.<\/p>\n
Inspired by The Dancing Column on Order in Architecture by
\nJoseph Rykwert 1996, this poems dwells on human relationships
\namid the diversity in social life.<\/p>\n
\"I'm no artist, but a researcher. I write poems as a bridge to
\nunderstand facts and theories,\" she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Love and Strife, once read out by Alan Rose, a U.S. poet and
\nrecorded in The Sound of Poetry by the International Library of
\nPoetry, U.S., was written following the outbreak of conflict in
\nSampit, Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Love and Strife led to scientific work on the conflict in
\nSampit, titled Managing Ethnic Space for a Sustainable City, the
\nCase Study of a Madurese Mosque in Sampit, Central Kalimantan,
\nIndonesia. This research was presented at the Conference on
\nSustainable Building of Southeast Asia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
\nin April.<\/p>\n
In her research, Retno concludes that the existence of
\nexclusive spaces for the Madurese were a factor that led to the
\noutbreak of conflict.<\/p>\n
The spaces were known as the Madurese market, the Madurese
\nvillage or even the Madurese mosque. It is this exclusive space
\nthat became an obstacle to common access for the two conflicting
\nethnic groups.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the conflict in Sampit was resolved after a
\nconsensus was reached by the two groups about how to use public
\nspaces, such as mosques, together.<\/p>\n
A religious symbol, Retno says, brought the conflicting groups
\ntogether. Within this context, a mediating religious symbol means
\na place that two conflicting groups can refer to in order to end
\ntheir conflict.<\/p>\n
\"My research shows the significance of a common space or
\nbuilding to reach a consensus,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Take a religious service facility, for example. Aside from
\nserving as a place for Muslim worship, the shape of the building
\ndescribes the structure of the local community. \"Make sure that a
\nmosque building does not contradict local culture,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Take, for example, Amal Bhakti Pancasila mosques that were
\nbuilt by Tutut Hardiyanti Rukmana, one of former President
\nSoeharto's children. These mosques, built in a number of
\nprovinces in Indonesia, are shaped like a crown.<\/p>\n
Usually, only mosques in Java have such a shape. If a mosque
\nwith a crown shape on top is built in Kalimantan, it is not
\nsuitable to the local culture and can trigger conflict.<\/p>\n
As a woman, Retno did feel afraid when she had to mediate
\nbetween conflicting groups of people. Thanks to the encouragement
\nfrom her family, she was able to overcome this fear.<\/p>\n
\"I feel lucky to have been born a woman as I can freely go
\nabout among opposing groups, as most of my respondents were
\nwomen,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Spending some time in a conflict zone, Retno has learned a lot
\nabout love and conflict in the community. She said that these two
\nwere, historically, crucial for reaching unity among diverse
\nethnic, religious and social groupings.<\/p>\n
Conflicts are unavoidable but love will enable those involved
\nin conflict to reach consensus. Consensus will lead to
\nunderstanding between people.<\/p>\n
Aside from Love and Strife, Retno also has several poetry
\ncollections to her credit, including Struggle for Existence,
\nHeartless Dream and Understanding Difference. The last was
\ninspired by The Order of Things, An Archaeology of Human Science
\nby Michel Foucault (1970).<\/p>\n
\"So, that's me, a researcher who spends part of my life amid
\nlove and conflict,\" she added.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/writes-within-context-of-conflict-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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