'Indonesia is perfect example of pluralism'

'Indonesia is perfect example of pluralism'

Dozens of cultures and beliefs made Indonesia a nation long
before it declared Independence on August 17, 1945. The recent
edicts issued by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) that, among
other things, bans pluralism and joint prayers, and has
challenged the nation's "Unity in Diversity" philosophy. The
Jakarta Post asked a few residents their thoughts on this issue.

Farid A. Rakun, 22, is an architecture student who lives in
Kemanggisan, West Jakarta:

History has taught us that progressive thinking cannot be
repressed.

In regard to the controversial MUI edicts only one thing needs
to be said. It may sound cliche, but people really do need to
live with differences.

Conflicts over differences are only a waste of time, money,
energy, not to mention lives.

We have lived with these kinds of differences for ages. We
have also seen conflicts that people have thought were derived
from these differences, when in fact, they were only politics.

Nurida Hasaputri, 30, is a social science teacher at an
international school who lives in Cinere, Depok:

Pluralism, to me, is a very broad subject. Indonesia is a
perfect example of it. Differences occur in this country not only
in terms of religion and belief, but also race, culture and even
mentality.

Before we comment on something, we need to make sure that we
are talking about the same thing. The MUI edict on pluralism, for
example, might be issued on the basis of a very different
understanding this word.

It is normal that there should be a variety of opinion about
something. What matters is how we deal with it.

-- The Jakarta Post