Get familiar with neighborhood

Get familiar with neighborhood

Space limits me only to respond to Mr. Ross Gulliver's letter
(Aug. 3, 1995) for now. Perhaps on another occasion I may be
allowed to comment on the usage of the term bule as defined by
another writer.

Mr. Gulliver, we Indonesians appreciate the absence of
generalizations about this country and its people, and I like the
fact that you decided on a more conciliatory tone, in your second
letter. On behalf of all sensible Indonesians, may I apologize
for the rudeness of those roguish, callow, perhaps frustrated
youths you encountered while out walking with your wife.

I do not know how long you have lived here, but I suggest that
you learn to avoid some areas in the big city, like all urban
residents would anywhere. If this is difficult, you might
consider moving to a friendlier neighborhood. Learn at least
rudimentary Indonesian. It might be helpful if you could joke and
banter with locals. It may that all the hostile strangers crave
is attention. If you make the effort, talk to them and not act
too "foreign;" after a while "strangers" will get used to you as
a couple. They seem curious about you, so why not develop some
curiosity about them? You can even joke about sex, if you like,
and keep it friendly. Do not assume that all Indonesians are
inherently hostile to you.

Racism can exist anywhere and is not necessarily directed at
Westerners in Indonesia. I spent three months in Perth, Australia
in 1987, and while walking down a suburban neighborhood, a woman
in a passing car shouted "Go home!" out her window at me. It was
solely the color of my skin that rankled her, as I don't look too
much different from other human beings. I could also not fail to
notice the large, printed "Asians Out!" signs on every fifth
lamppost down a main highway in Western Australia. They were
fastened there by a group called the Australian Nationalists.
Nevertheless I harbor no ill feelings towards Australia or
Australians. For every racist, I could always find a more
broad-minded person.

I am sure if there were large "Australians Out!" signs in the
popular tourist destinations of Bangkok or Bali, the local
authorities would take them down. Call it lack of "free speech"
here, but the Asian approach to avoid conflict would be the
better one in this case.

Education and more contact all around the world will help
people understand each other more. Mr. Gulliver, with little more
stoicism, perhaps a thicker skin, cultural tolerance, and even a
sense of humor, you and your wife will make it here.

FARID BASKORO

Jakarta