Not xenophobic

In my two months in Jakarta I have regularly followed the "Your Letters" section of The Jakarta Post. The "cut and paste" scholarship of Mr. Osvaldo has been a continual source of amusement. I hope that increasing environmental awareness does not cut too deeply into the his overhead cost.

It is the suffering of the chromatically challenged community, myself included, that scratches my spleen. To the descendants of Hanuman (the white monkey in the Indian epic), take heart. You, as a minority, are much safer in Indonesia than minorities in the so-called developed western states. Mr. Scharf brings the point home. The list of appearance-based labels that he offers are English words and not part of the Indonesian vocabulary.

If Indonesians are xenophobic, why are there not special words for people of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent? Keep in mind, etymology traces the development of words. Meaning, however, is the responsibility of the interlocutor. If bule is backed with hatred, then we must also look at ourselves to discern the motivations for those feelings. Based upon historical realities, westerners have a reputation as plunderers. Arguably many westerners are here today taking advantage of the strength of their home currency, or to parasitize the economic boom.

It is easy to see why many native people would feel resentment and frustration. In the end, we are judged not by words alone but by deeds. Those concerned with verbal states must make every effort to ensure that their presence here is beneficial, rather than burdensome. Those on high long-term commitments here should organize and make cross-cultural communications that are both rewarding and visible.

I am not troubled by the label bule; It seems sufficiently general. For those who feel it is not general enough I would suggest propagation of the acronym oras (orang asing).

EDOUARD M. OBRIAIN

Jakarta