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Indonesian Intelligentsia and Mass Leader Public debates–through media, blogs, mailing list– in Indonesia nowadays crowded with around two co-related topic: (1) RUU APP (anti-pornography draft bill); banning of prostitution (and soon alcoholic drink) in Tangerang municipality; Playboy Indonesia. (2) Labor law; Papuan asylum seeker issue and Cepu oil and gas. Concerning the RUU APP, an…
Uton: Hey Harun, where have you been? I ask you to come over here several times… Harun: Sorry, Pak (Sir). I am very busy nowadays. Uton: Busy, huh? Are you busier than me? Harun: *smiling awkwardly* The above conversation happened several years back between Harun Al Rasyid, then was a PhD student and is currently…
This writing was posted on September 8, 2005 in another blog, soon after the plane crash in Medan. Dedicated to him, my very close friend who I’ve never met. One of the victims of Medan Plane Crash was Wilson Kusumo. He’s a social activist and known in Indonesia as a person with integrity and dignity….
Authority in Blog and Media In order to be able to write an op-ed article and get published in print media, you gotta have a sort of authority in the field you are writing on. The authority, however, won’t guarantee your piece to appear in the intended newspaper, there’re some other things which the editors…
Cartoon Better than Mom? This is a small study yet a little bit discouraging and should be a warning for mothers around the world: TV can overcome pain better than mothers do. Researchers in Italy found that cartoons helped distract kids from the pain of minor medical procedures. In the small study, Bellieni and colleagues…
May 2 celebrated as national educational day in Indonesia. We call it HARDIKNAS (Hari Pendidikan Nasional). I don’t get used to write something for a particular national day like this. National day or even a birthday is a common day to me. There’s nothing special about it. For government official, national day is a big…
Interview: Riverbend The Iraqi Female Blogger Her Interview with Al Jazeera and About Blog Journalism As reported by Al Jazeera, her blog is nominated as a finalist for the Samuel Johnson Prize for contemporary non-fiction (the announcement will be June 14 in London). Her other achievements: (a) It has been adapted into book form by…
Roger Federer the Charismatic Sportman Roger Federer is adored by many, including me, not only because of his extra-ordinary ability in sport he chooses i.e. tennis. He’s admired more or less also as an extraordinary human being who has a strong willingness to improve his personality and doesn’t forget to see other unpriveleged people as…
Self-Criticism of an American I’m glad watching Doug Pritchard –co-chairman of Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT)– who held press conference live on CNN today in which he said “We believe the illegal occupation of Iraq by multinational forces is the root cause of the insecurity which led to this kidnapping and so much pain and…
Floyd Landis and Synthetic Sweat If you love biking, you must’ve known his name and his upside down. The 2006 Tour de France Champion fate seems to be certain: he did the dope. And the decision is obvious: he’ll willingly or unwillingly have to surrender the crown to the runner up. Thing that’s not yet…
Extremism is un-Islamic Former Indonesian president KH Abdurrahman Gus Dur Wahid writes a good piece in the Washington Post highlighting the recent court-ruling hype in Afghanistan in which a Muslim who converts to Christianity got the death sentence but then sidestepped by the Gov on the ground of unfitness on the part of the accused….
Is Dual Citizenship Needed? I’ve made delibarely the Indonesian expats life twice as the topics for “Blogger Indonesia of the Week.” The issue I wanted to raise is not only how important it’s for us to give appreciation wherever it’s due including to those who’re living abroad, but also to highlight a little bit the…
The First in USA: A Blogger Jailed Jeff Jarvis of the Guardian Unlimlited blog reports a case that might be the first of its kind in the USA: a blogger jailed by a US federal court for not handing over sources or source materials for a story. A case that–according to him–“will raise no end…
Anonymity and Credibility in Social Media I agree with Budi Putra that anonymity should be accepted. And why not? I even go further in my previous post that scientific posting, on certain topics, will automatically earn you a credibilty irrespective of whether you’re anonymous or not. I emphasize the word “certain topics” because there’re some…
Shalat Idul Adha in KBRI New Delhi I’ve just done Eidul Adha prayer in KBRI (Indonesia Embassy) New Delhi along with other Indonesian students and KBRI staffs. Some Muslim diplomats from neighboring countries like Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore are also praying with us. And as usual, our ambassador host the breakfast for all people who…
Our Education only for the Rich! 01.00 pm November 23, 2005: Question & Answer with Indonesian expats (2) Contrary to the first question which applauded the current government “success” and praising anything Indonesia, the second question forwarded by Tylla Subijantoro, a law student of Delhi University, criticised strongly the Indonesian establishment ignorance on education for…
Are Indonesians Friendly People? My previous posting with the same title amassed many responses, either through the comment box or to my email. All are similar: that Indonesians have a open and friendly attitude by nature. Even indcoup, a Londoner, agreed with that with a positive criticism: that Indonesians mostly undisciplined; hence the corruption spread…
Responding to the attrocities of Bali bombing, my good friend Nadirsyah Hosen says this in his blog: “I strongly condemned a recent terrorist attack in Bali. All moderate Muslims must speak out loudly to confront evil ideology behinds this violent movement.” Now, who is the so-called moderate Muslim? First, If you, reader of this 50-cent-piece,…
Bush and Indonesia Islam If you watched CNN or BBC before and during Bush’s visit to Indonesia, you would see a sea of protersters in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta with slogan of anti-Bush and to some extent, anti-American foreign policy. But with most female protesters were wearing Islamic clothes i.e. jilbab (Indonesian term for Islamic veil),…
Ramadan from Monday in India Ramadan India In India, the month of Ramadan starts from Monday which means we, any Muslim currently stay in the country, will resume our fast from 25th of September and end up (probably) on October 24. People in Indonesia and some other countries including Saudi Arabia have already started their…