Ethnic sentiment

This letter is about the recent comments written by Arief Budiman, Masli Arman, Rahayu Ratnaningsih and Lie Hua, on the ethnic Chinese.

While traveling overseas a few years ago, I joined a local tour. When our guide called out the names of participants, I was happy to learn that there was an elderly couple from Indonesia - at least my group did not feel outnumbered.

At one stop, the guide inquired if my group was really from Indonesia and not Singapore or Malaysia because of my "Chinese" looks. I understood her confusion, comparing us to the indigenous Javanese couple. I ensured her that the four of us were Indonesian. My friend and I then explained to our guide about the hundreds of ethnic groups with their own cultures, customs, dialects and beliefs living in Indonesia.

Whenever asked where they are from, Indonesians tend to name the town they were born in. I would correct someone asking me if I came from Manado by telling them that I was from Bengkulu, a town on the west coast of Sumatra.

"So, you are 'orang' Sumatra?"

"No, I am Indonesian, born in Bengkulu, Sumatra," I reply. Even though it is a lengthy explanation and somewhat annoying, I find it unique.

I have carried a quote by Dennis J. O'Keefee's, on Britain Racism Debate is Prejudiced, with me for a decade. "The idea that people could live without racial sentiment, without a sense of history or identity is nonsense" (Asian Wall Street Journal, Dec. 27/28, 1985). It reminds me to allow and embrace the diversity of the people of this great nation, Indonesia.

AGNES HAN

Jakarta