Language keeps evolving
This topic has much been discussed, but allow me to add another voice. Specifically, I am responding to Fred Startz's letter 'Bule' for westerners (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 2, 1995).
Mr. Startz, you rely too much on dictionary definitions for your negative conclusions. As any student of language knows, dictionaries often lag behind the "living language" -- the one in popular and current usage. In the U.S., African-Americans used to prefer being called Negro instead of black. Now they use the latter word with pride, and there is a trend to replace this with African-American. Language constantly evolves.
Older Indonesians tell us that in colonial times, the word bule was only used for true albinos (there had to be a word to describe the condition). Indonesians were too cowed by their Dutch controllers to call them anything but Tuan or Tuan Besar (Sir, or even Great Master). The Dutch called us Inlander -- a word somewhat more contemptuous than "Native." One sign permanently etched in the minds of Indonesians was "No Dogs and Inlanders Allowed" at a whites-only swimming pool in colonial Bandung.
Decades after our bloody struggle for freedom, there was still considerable anti-western sentiment here. The white man was the exploiter, the rapacious colonialist, the violator of human rights. The word bule seems to have first been used pejoratively in the late 1950s, while Indonesia was trying to regain Irian Jaya, a territory considered part of the Netherlands East Indies but only later and somewhat grudgingly accepted as Indonesia's, in many western minds. All white men at one point in our history were called Orang Belanda (Dutchman), and considered to have the same earlier, colonial-style characteristics no matter where they originated from.
The dictionaries that Mr. Startz refer to in his Aug. 2 letter were first published years ago, and although revised, still state that bule is "derogatory." This is not always true nowadays. As more westerners have poured in because of economic boom times, some camaraderie has developed between them and Indonesians, and the word is in common, often friendly, use. It is only hostile when said in a certain tone and angry manner. And for some Indonesians, remembering historical injustices, there is still considerable anti-western feeling. The situation is exacerbated when a westerner is judged to be arrogant or supercilious.
Let us be aware that the Chinese in Hong Kong have a certain word for the white man, namely gweilo, which is Cantonese for foreign devil. (The Thais have farang, while the Japanese have gaijin). The word gweilo has lost much of its nasty edge, and I have even heard a New Zealander from Hong Kong say, "You know us gweilos don't like our food too spicy." Similarly, a British woman in Jakarta once said, "I'm a real woolly bule, aren't I?" with a smile. (She was referring to the old song Woolly Bully," not any particular hirsuteness).
Now back to Mr. Startz's missive. Contrary to his contention, Mrs. Olvia Reksodipoetro's two decades in Indonesia seem to have been well spent. In earlier letters she expressed concern about underpaid laborers and the quality of education -- showing she is well attuned to Indonesian concerns. She certainly understood linguistic nuance when she used the word bule (July 29 letter). It is perhaps Mr. Startz who hasn't used his time here perceptively. By the way, Mr. Startz, orang sabun (person of soap) is not in popular use among us. Stick around a bit longer, sport!
FARID BASKORO
Jakarta