Talk is Cheap. Give It For Free.
This time I am featuring myself and several comments I’ve posted in other blogs. Not all. Most are just the lengthy (sigh.) ones and somewhat contextually related to one another. Thought I should compile them and share it here as a post first before I continue with the next one.
Some would assume these comments of mine as controversial opinions, especially coming from a young urban Indonesian female from the working class. On contrary to being controversial, I actually thought I sound ridiculously awkward and uptight at times. However, I do believe controversy and sensationalism is in the eye’s of the beholder; if one is accustomed to brainstorming-driven interactivity [Link], one will hardly regard any of my comments as being controversial or sensational. It is simply a case of character. Of course, these posts were intensely discussed because they were well written in the first place, or simply thought-provoking posts, or the other commenters are just brilliantly intimidating and I just got to plunge into the moshpit.
No matter how overly demanding and pretentious some bloggers can be, it’s always good to know that we are not fighting for whatever it is worthy in this life, alone. If talk is cheap, then I’d rather give it for free. Someday, I really do hope that we’ll find that certain driving force that have been uniting us altogether in shaping a significant role in the society–what is it really?.
Anyways, here goes. The comments.
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On Banality and Compassion, authored by Jennie S. Bev.
Fine analysis, and a beautiful composition, mba Jen. As always.
I absolutely agree to your opinion.
Then again, what’s to disagree? Of course, compassion is the ideal option when it is opposed with banality. Takes no Dalai Lama to realize that. But how about compassion and apathy? How about compassion and ignorance? How about compassion and denial? Or compassion with cowardness?.
Jesus spoke to a man that day: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone. What if the man still cast the stone? What would Jesus do (ahem.)? Just walk away, because Jesus is being too compassionate?.
See, there’s this thing about intellectuals. Not in the subject of theology to be specific. Just intellectuals. Some say, there are two types of intellectuals: Those who are trained to be politicians, and those who are trained to be a soldiers.
Politicians give you bureaucracy, maybe a few self-gratifying bullshit, then stability. We need them, we really do. Soldiers, they give you nothing but a reason to fight, to advance forward, and to provide a driving force. And when one can still choose, one do not really fight, one merely choose; but when one is fighting, one knows there is no other choice, no other reason, but to survive. Survival of an idea, that’s all there is to it.
I know I’m such a big mouth to say all that stuffs. I am still inexperienced and I am sure everyone here in IM have learned more of banality and compassion more than I do. But let’s just say, what if ..you have no choice at all.
There’s this saying in my generation btw, “You talk the talk, but do you walk the walk?”. Proof of intellectuality goes something like that. In my terms.
Anyhow, this article is too good to be published only in blogs or even the media. You should deliver this personally to whom it may concerned in this nation. With a real, actual, and yet compassionate fight. We trust you, and everyone here, on that.
Cheers. 
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On Sumpah Pemuda di Era Globalisasi, authored by ian.
ngomong2, agak menyimpang dikit, kenapa yah invasi produk dan kultur Jepang gak pernah menyebabkan munculnya terminologi Japanization of the world? padahal ada istilah Americanization atau Westernization.
Good question. Kalau menurut pendapat saya, sebelumnya harus ditanyakan dulu: yang mempopulerkan istilah kata Americanization dan Westernization itu siapa di negara ini? Atas dasar apa? Dan yang berhak memberikan denotasi negatif untuk istilah-itilah tersebut siapa? Kenapa?
Siapapun dan apapun itu, mungkin ngerasa “musuh”-nya bukan Jepang. Atau belum. Kalau dalam politik dan ekonomi, semua bisa jadi musuh. Tapi kalo dalam aspek ..mmm taro lah yang lebih sensitif (pada tau donq apaan?), sudah pasti kebaca yang mana lawan mana.
Saya setuju dengan ian; Toyota aja bisa, kenapa kita engga? Yep. Kekurangan dan keunggulan suatu budaya bisa saja dialami budaya yang lain juga, terlepas dari “bendera” yang dikibarkan. Semua kembali kepada nilai kemanusiaan suatu bangsa. Selanjutnya, bukan ngga mungkin TQM versi Indonesia nantinya lebih dahsyat, ..bisa bikin mobil terbang gitu. 
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On Short on Religion, authored by colson.
Yes, our moral boundaries have been forcefully confined within religious norms. Sometimes I wonder if that’s against human rights, but then, does it matter? as how most would question the subject. Theism exists, atheism also exists, but most importantly: the universality of one’s spiritual enlightenment exists. In other words, heaven is for all.
Eventhough admitting religion as a product of civilization is basically saying *god* as a personified being does not exist, but it isn’t precisely religion that people fear, it’s not even hell; it’s themselves in flesh and blood-the pain of being burned in hell. It’s a better justification though, rather than saying one has a religion because one fears the public opinion of not having any.
Anyhow, in my opinion, radicalism can be imposed in any form, even an atheist can be as radical as every other religious fanatic. If religion is all about living, loving, and chanting kumbaya, no radicalism whatsoever, would an atheist still be an atheist? Etc etc. True humanism asks questions. Still a long way to go to that point of civility where “questions” are actually spiritual quests, as in a way holy scriptures used to be.
For now, to co-exist upon common grounds would be the best option available.
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On Cangkir Pecas Ndahe, authored by Ndoro Kakung.
Postmodernism. 
Fungsinya tetap sebagai pegangan, hanya saja terlepas dari kerangka pikir yang menyatakan pegangan cangkir itu hanya (boleh ada) satu. Aliran post-modern namanya.
(serius gini gue.)
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On And what do Indonesian women think?, authored by Unspun.
Report harrassment to the cops ? What is this a joke ? The police are the best organized criminals in the country, and as we Indonesians say, you’d get robbed a second time.
I’ve never been married before, but I’d like to believe that marriage is not something one is “educated” to do. It’s more of a matter of character, spirituality, and the L word. Then again, one do not study or teach loyalty by the books. It’s either in one’s blood, or not. Err, metaphorically.
Report the abuse, please be consistent in using the term. However, as I’ve suggested, describe it in a clear, chronological, and practical way. Why? Because it is possible that there are different measurements in defining and referring an act as an abuse. Please check one of my posts titled: Open Letter to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers.
Where to report? Wherever you see fit and trustworthy.
I agree with you in that it’s not really “bule” that some of these women like, but liberal-modern thinking men.
And what’s “bule” got to do with liberal-modern thinking men in the first place? Is it because of the Western pop culture? I grew up knowing Westerners (from a certain country, unfortunately, not all) are church-goers, hardworkers, people who read books before bed, parents that tell their children to wash their own dishes.
Liberal-modern thinking people, how do you really define them? By their so-called lifestyle? You say, oh lookie, that guy on the dancefloor is buying a round of tequila shots for everybody!, he must be a liberal-thinking modern man!
Is that it?
C’mon, pak Achmad. Quite sure you can perceive something deeper than that.
I don’t think Indonesian women - once they get educated - are happy at all. If they are so happy, why are divorce races - amongst urban professionals skyrocketing ? In most cases, it’s driven by the women.
Pak Achmad, happiness is a very very very absurd and personal concept. Too absurd to be placed in the context of this discussion. But tell me, will you be happy by hating others who are different from you? Will Anita? Oigal? Rob? Unspun?
There’s no such thing as absolute happiness anyhow, and life will always has its own challenges. But the equality of rights, social justice, and the welfare of a nation’s citizens, that’s what the state must be responsible for.
Sheesh, I sure talk like a politician, do I? 
However, being formally educated does not necessarily mean one is not being apathic, ignorant, and vain. You go to school, graduate, get your certificate, and people call you educated and civilized person. So what? Does it say that educated people must change the world? Fight against the crimes of humanity? Voluntarily participate in debates on race, religion, or any social situations? Does it say that education have built one’s character as a person, an individual?
Nope. Education gives the attributes of intellectuality. Not intellectuality itself.
Therefore, I find no relation between such education and any form of interpersonal relationships, because I find no relation between such education and one’s character and life principles.
I’ve never been married before, but I’d like to believe that marriage is not something one is “educated” to do. It’s more of a matter of character, spirituality, and the L word. Then again, one do not study or teach loyalty by the books. It’s either in one’s blood, or not. Err, metaphorically.
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On Dunia lain…, authored by Rangga Aditya Sastrowardoyo
Well written article. I found this blog by accident.
Guess from where? —- ——–’s iLike application. On Facebook. Yes.
Saya pendukung fanatik kemajuan lewat internet, baik dari segi individual maupun komunal. Ketika medium ini juga para penggunanya diberi nama buruk dan dibatasi gerak-geriknya, saya menjadi pesimis tentang masa depan negara ini.
Ide tidak sepatutnya dibatasi.
Biarlah ide berevolusi. Biarlah masyarakat belajar dan berkembang sendiri. Berikan mereka kebebasan untuk berekplorasi. Karena hanya dengan cara itulah mereka akan maju.
Tuhan telah mengkaruniai manusia kemampuan untuk memilih. Siapakah kita untuk berani mencabutnya?
Berarti Tuhan juga yang sudah mengkaruniai manusia kemampuan untuk mencabut kemampuan manusia lain untuk memilih. Kalau kita bicara Tuhan ..hal yang buruk dan menyakitkan dan tidak bisa diterima oleh akal sehat pun bisa a/n Tuhan. Pertanyaannya: Tuhan yang di alam pikir, alam jiwa, dan alam indrawi kita itu Tuhan yang bagaimana, itulah yang menentukan kualitas kita sebagai individu, komunitas, atau suatu negara. Biarlah ide berevolusi, yap. Biarlah segala paradigma dan birokrasi lama berevolusi. Biarlah Tuhan berevolusi juga? Nah lo. Disitu letak kontradiksinya.
Oleh karena itu pula, kebebasan ideologi di Indonesia akan selalu menghadapi rintangan.
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On Reading Habit and Library: Lesson #5 from India, authored by Fatih Syuhud.
Oh, they’re reading alright. Harry Potter is a form of literary too right? 
First thing first, there are those who are more receptive to the idea of auditory learning, visual learning, and/or kinesthetic learning. In my opinion, it’s mainly divided by two: theoritical and practical learning.
As an example, when teaching children aged 7 or 8 years old, we can no longer give them a block of words to memorize (to memorize, untuk menghafal, sounds familiar?). We should encourage them to play with science. Get them IN the process of knowledge, not just consume it.
Therefore, yes, the government (and NGOs, and the media) must facilitate more access to the reading culture, but also to the writing, creating, and innovating culture as a progressive continuance.
Reading is a start–cutting those high taxes on imported books is a start as well. Then again, we wouldn’t be writing these comments if we weren’t accustomed to reading. Note: Indonesia gains revenue around six trillion rupiahs on books.
Best of luck for your project.
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On the post titled Cultural Diversity, authored by Patung.
And please stop the crap about hungry Indonesians. This is Nusantara, not the Sahel or some godforsaken desert. Colonizers trampled on each other to have a go at Indonesia’s abundance of fertile soil and you are whining about hunger. Come and have look here in Bali. If you think those thousands of temples were build on empty stomachs, think again. Look at the tons of food which are on display in offerings at even the smallest of temple ceremonies.
Not hungry, just literally hungry, but also metaphorically hungry.
Not food only in a literal sense. Then again, the opposite of hunger is not food.
Uhm, any philosophist in the house? Someone who could elaborate the philosophical meaning of *hungry* to dewaratugedeanom?
Maybe this quote will do.
War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today.
- JFK
And of course, another man’s terrorist is another man’s hero.
I bet you are one of those people who would spare the Bali bombers for fear of retaliation by fundamentalist thugs. So long justice.
No, I wouldn’t. But I might be one of those people who (intended to) explore the facts which might prove that such acts of religious extremism were most likely to be triggered. By being psychologically imbalanced, or physically unhealthy, or intelectually restrained, or spiritually under seize, ..hungry, and loosing hope, except for the one promised in the heavens. *That* is the problem. Not the religion itself.
Religion is merely a justified device. Spirituality is always another case.
Why not take time to have a comparative study between Indonesia’s Jihadist extremists with, for instance, USA’s Ku Klux Klan, or Hitler’s Mein Kampf? I’m sure there are many other similar cases that would explain a lot of religious (or religiously-influenced political) extremism throughout history of humankind. How does each one resolutes? How does a particular civilization finally stepped forward?
Yes, these study cases are enough to make use of each as an intellectual round of ammunition in yet-another-debate battlefield between A and B, but rarely as a creative solution based on good nature and common grounds.
If justice is all about A versus B, and A making sure A wins, and B making sure B wins. Then yes, so long justice. How about inventing another element of the system, the one that observes and able to perceive these series of circumstances in Indonesia for the last fifty years as a civilization on its own evolution? In high speed.
(Oh god, big heavy heavy words.)
Maybe in that way, we could prevent the worse things from happening, and encourage the better things to flourish.
I am not saying that IM should adapt to that concept, because I personally respect IM *as it is*, and yes, being constructive one one side can suggest being deconstructive on another.
O, I see you changed it again.
It’s that IM’s cache thingie! The cybernetics may have chosen the sexier gravatar all by itself, ..dayum, it has a free will. I’m flattered.
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Along with this post, my highest gratitude also goes to each one of you who have commented, and contributing your opinions, on this site. You have made blogging less shitty.
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