Senin, 20 Mei 2013

We could use some more common sense


We could use some more common sense
Ati Nurbaiti ;  A Staff Writer at The Jakarta Post
JAKARTA POST, 12 Mei 2013

A number of disturbing developments this week indicated that we are in dire need of a big dose of common sense. 

Take the raids on suspected terrorists in West Java, Central Java and Banten. We are relieved that the police’s Densus 88 counterterrorism continues to root out suspected terrorists. But it also means that terrorist networks have no problem finding a fresh pool of new recruits to replace arrested or convicted core members.

Leading preachers have appealed to parents, the late Zainuddin MZ implored “don’t let your children be so gullible [that they accept] promises of instant heaven through violence against any branded kafir[infidel]”. Words of warning, such as these, may be few and far between and are unable to catch all those seeking material or divine rewards. Add to this the ease in which individuals, or groups, are able to blend into communities and the lack of barriers they face to establish fake identities, not to mention apathetic neighbors — and the result is fertile ground for terrorist networks. 

Muslim leaders are angry at Densus 88’s killing spree, highlighting the mockery of the suspects’ devotion by officers, despite the authorities’ denials that Muslims are targeted in our war on terror. These religious leaders have much homework to do about the way that they share information about nonviolent “jihad”, which they like to stress is the “true jihad” rather than the murderous type.

Some of us thought that more religious education would save the nation from drug abuse and all things evil. 

So, a new curriculum was devised, a supposedly ingenious and unprecedented effort in the act of combining — resulting in natural science and religious values taught as one. One exasperated teacher said that in this class religions were to be used to teach how the planet evolved

Following criticism by educators, the Education and Culture Minister Mohammad Nuh fell short of throwing in the towel. On Thursday, he said the new curriculum would apply to a limited number of schools, paving the way for more problems regarding the future content of uniform exams. As few could make sense of what the ministry was up to, some teachers alleged the whole project was just another scheme amid the widespread graft and collusion to enrich ministry officials.

Teachers said what youngsters need are role models — not more hours of religious lessons. And it is role models with religious values and tolerance that we are lacking as politics leads the way.

The lack of such role models was evident, again, in last Sunday’s attack on the Ahmadiyah minority in Tasikmalaya, West Java, while other Ahmadis in Bekasi, east of the capital, were still holed up in their mosque, which had been sealed by the administration.

Instead of providing leadership and a role model for tolerance, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, yet again, buried his head in the sand and waited for the annoying problems to disappear. 

Local administrations given their authority under regional autonomy, our President reiterated, are the vanguard for issues of religious disputes.

In another case, Yudhoyono seems to hope that East Java Governor Soekarwo would make his own decision without calling the Palace about whether Sampang regency can throw out its Shiites.

In the absence of leadership from the President about what local rulers should do in matters of faith, we can only gauge that Yudhoyono has given into practical politics and opted to leave the potentially rebellious little kings alone — a more preferred guess than thinking our twice elected leader lacks any common sense.

On Tuesday, demonstrating residents in Sampang demanding that the Shiites who had to seek refuge at a stadium, be evicted rather than be permitted to return to their homes. In August 2012 an attack occurred on the Shiite community, leaving three dead including two Shiites. A personal squabble involving a Shiite leader became a call to action to drive the Shiites out of Sampang. 

Sampang regent Fannan Hasib said there was no other choice but to secure the go-ahead from the governor to drive them out because that was the will of the majority.

Similarly, former regent Noer Tjahja said he would follow the will of the almost 1 million voters — who follow the will of Madura’s ulema. The problem is that in such cases the whole community is, thus, intimidated and driven out, notes the national women rights’ body.

We can blame the politics of reformasi and also the late president Soeharto, for the inability to think for ourselves. But forever blaming politicians and authoritarian leaders doesn’t make sense either.

Television shows may lead us to blame the money-grabbing media for the constant exposure of the “beautiful faces of graft” implicating leaders of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), and the eight wives of Eyang Subur, a controversial shaman. These shows are much more entertaining than the suffering of the minorities.

Perhaps media bosses will just say this is what the audience wants.

Maybe people just need to switch off the set more often and face up to our simultaneous problems of mindless intolerance and a mindless penchant for, in the words of a critic of the American media, “amusing ourselves to death”. 

Tidak ada komentar:

Posting Komentar